Transparency International Vanuatu is calling on the government to urgently rethink plans to bring in the death penalty.
Last month after several murders, the then Minister for Justice and Community Services, Silas Yatan, said the government may embarce the death penalty.
His call was later backed by the council of chiefs.
But TIV says the people need to be aware that Vanuatu has committed to a number of United Nations Conventions and allowing the death penalty would contravene these.
The watchdog group says the government, local organisations and individual citizens must ensure that the country does not take such a backward step.
It says it is vital the judiciary and police are properly strengthened and able to undertake their roles to protect everyone and stop violent crimes from escalating, while protecting everyone’s human rights.
RNZI