The Office of the Ombudsman has collaborated with Transparency International Vanuatu (TIV) to conduct a public awareness session at Eratap last week, providing an opportunity for community members to learn more about the Ombudsman’s role in promoting leadership accountability.

The awareness was attended by members of the RMC Congress, who had recently gathered in Santo and were staying at Eratap while waiting to board a ship to return to their respective islands.

Most of the participants were from Tafea Province, while a few were from Efate.

The session focused on helping participants better understand the role of the Ombudsman, particularly in relation to leaders, their responsibilities, and the importance of accountability in public office.

Through the awareness, participants had the opportunity to learn more about the Ombudsman’s work and how the Office contributes to promoting responsible leadership and ensuring that leaders are held accountable for their conduct in accordance with the law.

The session was also an important opportunity to reach people from different islands who may not often have access to such awareness programmes.

One participant expressed appreciation for the session, noting that they had never previously had the opportunity to attend an awareness programme of this nature.

The participant’s comment highlighted the importance of taking civic education and awareness activities directly to communities, including people who travel from the outer islands for major gatherings and events.

The collaboration between the Ombudsman’s Office and TIV reflects the importance of working together to strengthen public understanding of good leadership, integrity and accountability in Vanuatu.

Both organisations recognise that raising awareness about the responsibilities of public leaders and the role of accountability institutions is an important step towards building an informed public and encouraging responsible leadership throughout the country.