The behaviour of sending explicit pictures and videos in exchange for money has reached a level now where the Coordinator of Vanuatu Women’s Centre (VWC) says it has become a normal thing to insult women and girls on social media or Facebook.

Tatavola Matas:

“Our community is normalizing discrimination against women and girls on Facebook, normalizing disrespect also. That is what we are doing.”

With today’s development of technology in Vanuatu, violence against women and girls is no longer just sending explicit photos or videos , there are many other forms too, and they affect many girls who are using social media.

Senior Sergeant Mark Willie from the Family Protection Unit said it is the responsibility of parents to teach their children properly.

Senior Sergeant Mark Willie:

“We don’t have any protective system that will stop kids from surfing online freely. Our internet is open so freely, nothing to protect or safeguard how we use the internet. That’s why parental supervision at home is very important , to monitor what kids search, what they use, or how they use it. Yes internet can be so useful in so many sides but parental supervision is paramount.”