Tatavola Matas is an Australia Awards alumna who graduated with a Master of Laws from the Australian National University. As the Coordinator & Senior Legal Officer at Vanuatu Women’s Centre, Tatavola leads significant initiatives against violence towards women and children. We speak with her to highlight the significance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marking the launch of 16 days of activism.
In her role, Tatavola manages the Centre’s comprehensive program aimed at eliminating violence against women and children in Vanuatu, oversees its provincial branches, and collaborates with various stakeholders, including government bodies and international forums, to advocate for women and girls’ rights.
The VWC has achieved notable milestones, such as providing a continuous survivor-centred counselling service for over 32 years and conducting critical prevalence studies on violence against women and girls in partnership with the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics. Tatavola explains ‘I think these studies are a great achievement that will inform our country on our social development priorities‘.
Highlighting the importance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Tatavola emphasises the event’s role in raising awareness of ongoing violence issues in Vanuatu and acknowledging progress made. She notes troubling statistics, with over 1,000 domestic violence protection orders issued in 2023, underscoring the pervasive nature of such violence, including the rise of technology-facilitated violence against women.
Tatavola lauds recent legislative advancements, such as the Harmful Digital Communications Act and Data Protection and Privacy Act, which aim to create a safer digital landscape for women and children. Tatavola further explains ‘these acts will hopefully create a safer digital environment and protect citizens’ rights online as well as create a secure and trustworthy environment for managing personal data in Vanuatu‘.
Ultimately, Tatavola envisions a future where all women and girls in Vanuatu can exercise their rights freely and equally, culminating in a society where they are no longer bound by cultural restrictions.