Executive Summary
The constitution provides for individual freedom of “religious or traditional beliefs,” with the preamble to the constitution referring to “traditional Melanesian values, faith in God, and Christian principles.” There is no official state religion. The law makes discrimination a crime, including on the basis of religion. On penalty of a fine, the law requires religious groups to register. The penal code criminalizes defamation that exposes another individual to “public hatred, contempt, or ridicule” on any public platform, including the internet.
The interdenominational Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC), an umbrella religious organization representing the largest religious groups in the country, continued to organize prayer sessions in almost all government ministries. In September, the government announced the second of two grants to the VCC of 25 million vatu ($209,000), with half disbursed during the year in furtherance of the “Government Church Partnership Program” initiated in prior years. Religious minorities continued to criticize the government for not including non-Christian faith groups in celebrations of national events.
According to the VCC, religious minorities were respected within society, and any tension between groups was mostly due to tribal and ethnic issues. Some members of minority faith groups, however, stated members of dominant religious denominations ridiculed their beliefs. In most rural areas, in accordance with traditional customs, the establishment of a new religious group generally required agreement by the chief along with community consensus. In June, the Ecclesiastical District of Australia East opened three new local worship spaces in the country to cater to the growing number of Church of Christ members. In December, the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu held a worship service dedicated to a VCC-led campaign against gender-based violence.
There is no permanent U.S. diplomatic presence in the country, but officials from the U.S. embassy in Papua, New Guinea, were dual-accredited to Vanuatu. Representatives from the embassy discussed with government officials the importance of interfaith dialogue and the inclusion of religious minorities in national events and programs. Embassy representatives discussed religious freedom issues with leaders of the VCC, religious minority groups, and civil society organizations.