The Vanuatu Law Reform Commission (VLRC) is a government institution that falls under the Ministry of Justice, Youth and Community Services. It is the only recognized institution mandated by the law through the Law Reform Commission Act [Cap. 115] which has the responsibility to advise the Government and its institutions on what changes are needed to existing laws and what new laws may be needed in order to reflect changing values/realities that are relevant to the needs of the citizens. The Law Commission Act came into force on 30 July 1980. It was administered as a Joint Regulation No. 20 of 1980. Despite the intention to establish this institution since 1980, the Vanuatu Law Commission was established as recently as 2010 with the first Secretary appointed in August 2011.
Initially, this institution was called the Law Commission. As of 3 May 2017, the name was changed to Vanuatu Law Reform Commission (VLRC) under the Law Commission (Amendment) Act No. 28 of 2016.
Since becoming fully operational, the VLRC has continued to grow and strengthen its capacity to deliver high-quality law reform services. What began as a small team of five staff members has expanded to a dedicated workforce of currently ten staff.
To effectively carry out its mandate, the VLRC has established three specialized units that work together to deliver its law reform programme. The Research Unit is responsible for reviewing existing laws. The Policy Unit focuses on initiating new laws and process. The Drafting Instruction Unitprepares drafting instructions and technical documents that guide the legislative drafting process.
To access the services of the Commission, any interested individual, government agency, organization, or stakeholder seeking a law review, law reform project, or development of new legislation must first submit a Terms of Reference (ToR) form to the Commission. The submitted ToR is assessed against the Commission's established criteria and work processes. Once the ToR has been reviewed and approved by the Commission, the relevant unit or team may commence work on the project.
Read more about the VLRC’s history here.
Our Vision
A Law Reform Commission that is vibrant and responsive in facilitating law reform for the people of Vanuatu.
Our Mission
To facilitate law reform that is conducive to the social, economic and political development of Vanuatu and to ensure a systematic reform in conforming with national government policy and international standards.
Our Values
In carrying out our role, we place particular emphasis on excellence, independence and objectivity in our research, as well as our engagement, consultation and dialogue with those who use and are affected by the law. This includes members of the public, civil society and public institutions. We also prioritize the promotion of human rights and equality in all that we do, including transparency and integrity in our use of resources.
Romans 12: 4-5
For just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.