VPride

VPride is a Vanuatu, community-based organisation, founded in 2007, to help educate, advocate and mobilize around diverse s*xual orientation, gender identity, expression and s*x characteristics (SOGIESC). VPride is the only SOGIE/LGBTI organisation in Vanuatu. The key principles that guide our organisational decisions and actions:
- Human Rights: VPride actively promotes and practices the Yogyakar

ta +10 principles
- Inclusiveness: We practice and champion inclusiveness inside VPride and in the community, honoring all people’s diverse strengths, needs, voices and backgrounds
- Solidarity: We promote solidarity between all people working for their human rights;
- Culture and Kastom: VPride honors Vanuatu culture and kastom and seeks to reclaim Vanuatu culture and kastom for all people, regardless of SOGIE

In developing our 2020-2025 strategic plan, VPride adopted the framework provided by the UNDP LGBTQI Inclusion index as its overall guiding model, ensuring alignment of its activities with national SDGs and international goals and priorities. VPride is the only organisation in Vanuatu with established links to gay, le***an, bis*xual, transgender and inters*x communities. VPride has experience directly involving members of those communities in the development and implementation of programmes and activities, including HIV awareness training, SOGIE awareness training for education and justice professionals, LGBTI research projects, economic empowerment for VPride members and community members, and representation of LGBTI community at the local, national, regional and international level. VPride Partnerships and Networks include:
o Networks: Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network; Asia Pacific Transgender Network; APCOM; ILGA – Oceania; Edge Effect;
o Partnerships: Oxfam in Vanuatu, CARE in Vanuatu, Wan Smol Bag
o HIV: Vanuatu Country HIV Coordinating Committee, Pacific Islands Multi-Country Coordinating Committee; UNDP
o Human Rights: UNOHCHR, RRT -SPC, Vanuatu National Human Rights Institution
o National: Vanuatu Gender Cluster; National Youth Council

In 2019, with the support of Oxfam in Vanuatu (OiV) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Pacific Commonwealth Equality Project, VPride completed its VPride Strategic Plan, reviewed and revised its constitution, elected a new board, completed comprehensive Board training, and comprehensive financial training. Key policies, including a finance manual were developed and key staff were trained in Xero financial software (Organisational policies and manuals)

VPride has partnerships. collaborative agreements and working relationships in Vanuatu with key organisations, like OiV, SPC, Vanuatu Women’s Centre, Ministry of Health, Australia Pacific Training Centre (APTC), and others

Over the past few years, with the support of UNDP and through Wan Smol Bag (WSB), VPride has implemented the UNDP HIV/AIDS education project in Vanuatu

In 2020, with the support of Equal Rights in Action, VPride developed a comprehensive educational SOGIE booklet for the Pacific (available in English (VPride SOGIE booklet ), Bislama and French), providing legal background, definitions, and best practices in health, education, safety and justice, community and families. In 2021, with the support of Kaleidoscope Trust and the Commonwealth Equality Network, VPride implemented the first ever SOGIE research project in Vanuatu (VPride research report), and the first ever SOGIE Human Rights Inclusion Policy Advocacy event, officially sponsored by UNOHCHR. The event was attended by all Vanuatu diplomatic missions and key government and civil society representatives, and received extensive positive publicity. With the support of APTC, VPride is currently implementing SOGIE inclusive training for the National University School of Education. School of Nursing, and the Vanuatu Institute of Technology, using the SOGIE booklet. VPride annually organises a successful fashion show, to support economic empowerment for its members, a number of whom are talented and successful fashion designers