Vanuatu and the United Nations
| United Nations membership | |
|---|---|
| Membership | Full member |
| Since | 1980 |
| UNSC seat | Non-permanent (never elected) |
| Ambassador | Odo Tevi |
The Republic of Vanuatu has been a member of the United Nations since the year of its independence in 1980. The country was a particularly active member in the 1980s, when, governed by Prime Minister Father Walter Lini and represented by Ambassador Robert Van Lierop, it was a consistent advocate for decolonisation. Subsequently, its emphasis within the United Nations shifted to the issue of climate change and the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States.