Legal System of Vanuatu

Vanuatu is located in Australia Oceania. It is geographically situated in oceania, group of islands in the south pacific ocean, about three-quarters of the way from hawaii to australia. The country achieved independence on 30 july 1980 (from france and the uk). The capital is Port-Vila (on Efate).

Government Overview

Government Type: parliamentary republic Chief of State: President Nikenike VUROBARAVU (since 23 July 2022) Head of Government: Prime Minister Jotham NAPAT (since 11 February 2025) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament Administrative Divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba National Holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Vanuatu is described as mixed system of English common law, French law, and customary law International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: draft completed August 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 October 1979, effective 30 July 1980 at independence Amendment Process: proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court designated by the chief justice); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 puisne judges – 3 local and 3 expatriate) Judge Selection: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges serve until the age of retirement Subordinate Courts: Magistrates Courts; Island Courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: both parents must be citizens of Vanuatu; in the case of only one parent, it must be the father who is a citizen Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

Austronesian speakers from the Solomon Islands first settled Vanuatu around 2000 B.C. By around 1000, localized chieftain systems began to develop on the islands. Around 1600, Melanesian Chief ROI MATA united some of the islands of modern-day Vanuatu under his rule. In 1606, a Portuguese explorer was the first European to see Vanuatu's Banks Islands and Espiritu Santo, setting up a short-lived settlement on the latter.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Vanuatu based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.