Women and Young People with Disabilities: A Needs Assessment for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender-Based Violence, and Access to Essential Services – Vanuatu

By: UNFPA, AustraliaAid, Pacific Disability Forum, Women Enabled International

In 2021 supported by UNFPA, WEI, the Pacific Disability Forum, and the Vanuatu Sunflower Association undertook research in Vanuatu to assess the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) needs of women and young people. Due to the limited implementation of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the national legal and policy frameworks on gender and disability rights, persons with disabilities living in Vanuatu experience extreme forms of marginalization and significant restrictions to their autonomy and self-determination. In particular, as this report reveals, they are prevented from fully realizing their SRHR and their rights to legal capacity and to be free of GBV. This report documents the findings along with recommendations for stakeholders in Vanuatu.