Port Vila – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, this week (03/09) launched Vanuatu’s first National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2024-2028 which will provide government agencies with a comprehensive framework and measures aimed at preventing trafficking in persons in Vanuatu. 

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Solomon Napuat, said the launch of the National Action Plan marks a historic occasion for Vanuatu which represents a major step towards addressing human trafficking and protection of vulnerable migrants in Vanuatu. He said Vanuatu, like many other Pacific Island nations, is not only a hot-spot tourism destination, but also a hub for trafficking related activities which can lead to other challenges and burden the country if not dealt with carefully. 

Minister Napuat added that the development of Vanuatu’s first National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons is the result of many years of meaningful cooperation among the government, local communities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society.  

He acknowledged IOM’s support to his Ministry in the process. He called on the diplomatic missions in Vanuatu present to support Ministry of Internal Affairs to operationalise this plan further and says work to implement the plan must continue. 

The Director General for the Ministry of Internal Affairs Leith Veremaito said the vision of this National Action Plan is to “build a just, equal and empowered society that protects people from trafficking in persons and other forms of exploitation.” It sets out strategy outcomes and implementation plan to prevent and counter trafficking in accordance with Vanuatu legislation.  

To operationalise this National Action Plan, the document is set out following the four pillars with objectives and activities to address them: 

• Prevention of Trafficking in Persons
• Protection of Trafficking in Persons  
• Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons and  
• Partnership with others both domestically and internationally to combat Trafficking in Persons. 

IOM Vanuatu Head of Office, Carl Adams said, “IOM is honoured to work closely with partners to support the Government of Vanuatu in developing a National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Protect Vulnerable Migrants in Vanuatu.”  

Adams said the plan aligns with the outcomes of Vanuatu 2030: The People’s Plan and complements the many policies and plans already in place. He added that the historical and current migration patterns in the Pacific, plus modern communication tools like the internet and social media have made migration more accessible.  

Adams also cautioned that while migration can be a positive force for development, it also poses challenges. He mentioned the rise in transnational crimes such as human trafficking, which often targets vulnerable individuals.  

“We have already seen countries in the region report cases of human trafficking – both domestic and cross-border. In Vanuatu, from November 2018 to 2022, IOM dealt with a case involving 101 Bangladeshi victims of labour exploitation and trafficking,” Adams said. He stressed that no country in the Pacific is immune to these challenges, making a national strategy essential. 

The development of the National Action Plan is part of IOM’s Migrant Assistance and Protection in the Pacific project funded by IOM Development Fund. Covering Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, the project supported the Government of Vanuatu in the establishment of a National Steering Committee (NSC) in 2021, aimed at enhancing multi-agency cooperation which included 10 key government departments including IOM.  

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For more information, please contact, Janet Jack, at IOM Vanuatu, at jjack@iom.int