Pillar 3. Justice and Human Rights Justice and rights for all A comprehensive and effective law and justice system is fundamental to national security, as is the protection of human rights. Vanuatu is fortunate in that there is widespread respect for the rule of law, court decisions are accepted, and the judiciary is ethical. Fundamental freedoms and values are enshrined in the Constitution, including security of the person, protection and equal treatment under the law. A great strength of Vanuatu is that it is able to draw on traditional values which continue to make a vital contribution to national stability, security, and harmony. Kastom, the chiefs, culture and the churches remain fundamental to Ni-Vanuatu ways of thinking and acting. A priority is finding the right balance between traditional values, and the requirements of the formal justice system and of economic development and land use. This will be increasingly challenging in this globalised and modern world. The formal justice system is wellestablished and has undergone reform in recent years. The Justice and Community Services Sector Strategy 2018-2021 provides a modern, comprehensive framework, relevant to the Vanuatu context. It has a strong focus on how the non-state/kastom and state/formal 34 Part 2. Building a happy and secure future systems may be harmonised to create practical improvements in access to justice at the community level. Limited legal literacy is still a limiting factor however in access to the justice system. In addition, access to justice by women is a significant challenge. Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek at opening of the 2015 legal year. The court system, for both criminal and civil matters, comprises the Supreme Court, which has unlimited jurisdiction; the Court of Appeal, which is the highest court in the land and hears appeals from the Supreme Court; 4 Magistrates Courts, with limited jurisdiction; and 11 Island Courts, with lesser jurisdiction.