National Report >> Solomon Islands, Review Documentation, 11th session, May 2011

"With a population where eighty (80) percent of it dwells in rural villages and hamlets, gender roles are being traditionally defined along ‘kastom’ (‘custom’ in Solomon Islands pidgin), which have often cited as a factor that at times justifies the interpretation of human rights in relations to women and children. Notwithstanding this, there is some little progress being seen in the awareness shown by the public at large in recent years that, women’s and children wellbeing are human rights issues. The challenge to ensure that women fully participate in national decision making and development, children’s rights coupled with their security are fully protected in law remains. Additionally, issues as violence against women, women being discriminated against in work places, and by financial institutions when it comes to the subject of accessing loans are equally challenging too. Besides these, the subject to mainstreaming gender and gender equality
into national policy formulation and development discourse remains contentious. Furthermore, it was raised during consultations for the UPR report, that women’s economic empowerment for development should be addressed first, before women in leadership for development. The Solomon Islands government acknowledges these as challenges, more
work needs to be done around its laws, and legal frameworks to guarantee their full protection and it will need the support of partners to addressing them. Some of the initiatives which have taken place regarding law reforms, and policies focusing mainly on women and children are indicative of the desire by the SIG to start addressing these areas. [Para 40]"