Over the past 20 years, there has been evident progress for women in Vanuatu regarding the gender gap in literacy and education, child mortality rate and labor participation. Even though various government ministries including agriculture, public works, environment, health, education and lands have developed gender strategies and are taking proactive steps to integrate gender perspectives into their respective sectors, a number of challenges remain such as gender based violence, discrimination, low political participation, the lack of access to capital markets, the limited rights to property and inheritance and high adolescent fertility.
The purpose of the policy is to provide a strategic national framework for enhancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Vanuatu. The policy aims to provide a coordinated structure to enhance the effectiveness, the efficiency and the impact of the various efforts and activities undertaken by all actors and stakeholders.