A united stand to fight Violence Against Children

In front of thousands who were present at the 2019 Fest Napuan music festival and watching or listening throughout Vanuatu and around the world, Clarie Rogers, World Vision Australia’s CEO and Luke Ebbs, the Save The Children Vanuatu country director launched the ‘Unseen and Unsafe: underinvestment in Ending Violence Against Children in the Pacific and Timor-Leste’ report.

The comprehensive report which was compiled by Plan International Australia, Save The Children and World Vision reveals shocking levels of physical, emotional and sexual violence as well as neglect faced by many children living in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

After describing two scenarios to stress on the importance of a collaborative effort by every member in society, Clare Rogers went on to say, “…It takes a home to raise a child and it takes a community to protect the child.”

This year World Vision was a platinum sponsor for Fest Napuan, which is the longest running contemporary music festival in the Pacific, with the contextual theme of ‘Sexual consent in relationships to create safer and healthier relationships’. The report which found disturbing facts such as, 1 in 10 adolescent girl’s experienced sexual violence, was launched in Vanuatu during the festival and supported World Visions’ theme that the music Festival was promoting.

Art shows, video clips, controlled messaging on stage and a huge social media and traditional campaign were also carried out leading up to and during the music festival to educate the huge audience on creating safer and healthier relationships for children and families.

A highlight for this year’s festival was Vanuatu’s first ever public slam competition which focused on this year’s theme. The competition winner, Vanessa who presented her winning act during the first day’s show impressed Mrs Rogers so much that she implored the crowd to vote for Vanessa to be a member of Parliament in the future.