SCC 31st Anniversary Brings Partners Together to Share 2024 Research Findings
On 10 August 2026, the Vanuatu Women’s Centre (VWC) sub-center Sanma Counselling Centre (SCC) marked its 31st Anniversary at the Church of Christ Conference Room in Luganville, bringing together key partners to celebrate SCC’s work and strengthen collaboration in addressing violence against women and children.
As part of the anniversary programme, SCC invited its key partners to share the findings of the 2024 Second National Survey on Women’s Lives and Family Relationships. SCC had originally planned to visit the offices of its partners to share the findings, but due to limited time, partners were invited to the anniversary gathering instead.
Partners present included representatives from the Magistrates’ Court, National Public Health (NPH) Manager, Child Protection Desk, Crime Prevention Unit, Family Protection Unit, ADRA Vanuatu, Vanuatu Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (VDPA), as well as a former SCC staff member. Representatives from Labour were unable to attend due to another meeting, while Malvatumauri was also absent.
The session provided an important opportunity for partners to reflect on the research findings and recognise the collective efforts being made to prevent and respond to violence against women and children.
The Police representatives acknowledged the work carried out by SCC and its partners, highlighting that the statistics recorded in the 2024 research also reflect the impact of the collective work being done by different organisations and services. They emphasised the importance of continuing this work and not giving up.
The NPH Manager also acknowledged the strong working relationship between partners and committed to looking into how best to support clients who require medical reports, particularly those involved in cases of violence.
The Magistrates’ Court Clerk raised concerns about the need for the Family Protection Unit to also assist with applications for domestic violence cases, emphasising that all partners need to support one another to ensure survivors can access the services they need.
SCC also reinforced the importance of communication, coordination and collaboration among all service providers. No single organisation can provide all the support required by survivors, and strong partnerships are essential to ensuring that referral and support services work effectively.
The gathering was therefore more than a celebration of SCC’s 31 years of service. It was also an opportunity to share important evidence, acknowledge the contribution of partners and reaffirm a collective commitment to strengthening services for women and children across Sanma Province.
