Comments

Perhaps another explanation for the lesser gender focus in countries where women's empowerment is lower is that aid activities are supposed to be by mutual agreement between donor and recipient countries. Aid activities are not supposed to involve donors tromping over local sensibilities, which may include male counterparts being resistant to gender-based activities. Clearly, this is a conundrum with no easy solution, although one may be to include in project designs NGOs that do happen to implement gender activities.

Thank you, Ryan! I really appreciate that… The book has some great history, it’s the narrative I couldn’t quite buy into... Hope all is well in Canberra. Let’s stay in touch.

Great review, Matt, although you convinced me not to read it. And a hearty congratulations on graduating and on the new job back home. Sorry I missed it all, and hope all is well.

An excellent review of the current situation which is affecting international trade and tourism also.

Well done 👏. ..indeed, an essential step forward for Vanuatu democracy!! thank yu tuma.

Congratulations on a nice and sanguine piece. Given the overly alarmist debate that usually accompanies almost any issue in Vanuatu it is nice to see well reasoned pieces by people who know their subject. It is always worth remembering that there is no correlation between political instability and development or economic growth in Vanuatu, in fact one could argue the opposite in that most of the most important reforms were actually implemented during a similar period of instability in the early 2000's and based on more instability seen in the mid 90's. Secondly, from a behavioural standpoint this bill would discourage people standing as members of a party and thereby encourage people to stand as individuals (as they are allowed to do by the Constitution). We have seen this in other jurisdictions that tried something similar. It is not always possible to legislate away a problem, As Vanuatu found with the National Disaster Management Act (which arguably creates a bigger disaster than that which it is supposed to respond to) this bill could ironically lead to more instability and not less.

Thanks, Elizabeth, for this.

Important to note PNG has ratified ILO Conventions on labour inspection, tripartite consultation and violence and harassment in the workplace. Convention No.190 is the first international labour standard to address violence and harassment in the world of work. Together with Recommendation No. 206, it provides a common tripartite framework for action and a unique opportunity to shape a future of work based on social justice and decent work. These instruments will be key to achieve the objectives set by the ILO Centenary Declaration on the Future of Work, adopted in 2019, that clearly commits to a world of work free from violence and harassment, and more recently, by the ILO’s Global call to action for a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/WCMS_895608/lang--en/index.htm#:~:text=labour%20inspection%20system.-,Convention%20No.,social%20justice%20and%20decent%20work.

Great piece by Sam Koim back in the day. Good to see he is now playing his part do 'drain the swamp' in his capacity as Commission General of the IRC.

Very informative and reflective piece.

Reading this account of resilience and unity in the face of Cyclone Gabrielle's devastation truly highlights the human spirit at its strongest. The collective efforts of industry, government, and community support to ensure the safety and welfare of the RSE workers are both heartening and inspiring. It's a testament to the power of collaboration and adaptation in times of crisis. My thoughts are with all those affected.

Thank you Stephen, That's a great example of an individual unintended consequence. Thanks again Terence