UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 12) The Police Act 2013 clearly articulates principles upholding ... gender equality ...

Para 16) The Political Parties Integrity Act (PPIA) 2014 was enacted to improve the registration, administration, operation and promotion of integrity within political parties. Section 35 of the PPIA encourages broad participation of any person from the national or provincial level to establish parties without discrimination. Section 48 of the PPIA provides for a ten percent of candidacy for women in a political party who can contest in the elections. This is a positive step in recognising the need to increase women's participation in politics.

Para 23) The Government is currently reviewing the progress in the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women's Development (GEWD) 2010-2012 policy with the support of the SPC. The review process is to enable having a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanism for implementation of policies to measure achievements and keep track of challenges.

Para 24) The Solomon Islands National Strategy for the Economic Empowerment of Women and Girls was endorsed by Cabinet in August 2015. The strategy aims to increase gender equality and employment opportunities through economic empowerment.

Para 25) The Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW) National and Provincial Elections Campaign Strategy Plan of Action 2014-2015 was launched to strengthen and build competence and confidence of women candidates. It provides information and communication resources for public campaigning and undertake civic education programs in identified Constituencies.

Para 69) Towards the National General Elections (NGE) in 2014, the SINCW conducted national consultations on Temporary Special Measures (TSM) for women's participation in decision making bodies.

UN Compilation:
Para 4) The CEDAW noted with concern that a new draft federal constitution maintained article 15, paragraph 5, subparagraphs (c)-(e), of the current Constitution, providing for exceptions for discrimination that was based on customary law in areas such as adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property upon death, and tenure, resumption and acquisition of land ...

Para 16) The country team reported that while both the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women's Development and the National Policy on Ending Violence against Women were mainstreamed through the establishment of gender focal points in key line ministries, there remained ambiguity around responsibilities, issues relating to limited resources and a lack of clear monitoring objectives for the implementation of those policies ...

Para 17) The CEDAW welcomed the intention of Solomon Islands to revise the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women's Development with a view to incorporating the Committee's concluding observations. The country team reported that, at the request of the Government, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women would continue to support and provide technical assistance for the formulation of a strategy to implement the recommendations contained in the Committee's concluding observations.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 40) Referring to gaps in mainstreaming disability in Government policies, PWDSI stated that the 2010 Gender Equality and Women Development Policy failed to mention let alone address any issues facing women with disabilities.

National Report:
Para 23) Reform of the Penal Code with provisions to criminalize all forms of sexual violence under the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 is in place. Reforms on the other sections of the Penal Code is a work in progress.
Para 28) The Solomon Islands Public Service has sensitised Gender in Governance, specifically on women leadership, organizing a workshop to incorporate “Women in Leadership” in the Public Service Strategy.
Para 29) The Political Parties Integrity Act 2014 supports women in leadership and sets out a quota of 10% of Political Party membership must consist of women members. Solomon Islands Parliament has seen a growing number of women taking up Parliament seats, for the 11th Parliament there are now four elected women.
Para 34) A draft Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy (GESI) has been put together by the Ministry of Public Service with the goal to increase women in decision making and leadership positions. Closing the gap of women under-representation in senior government positions. Advancing Gender equality across the board in all areas of the public service.
Para 35) Women are increasing their representation in the paid workforce especially in the service, technical and managerial positions. Despite this growing trend, more needs to be done in getting more women in positions of leadership.
Para 36) Solomon Islands Public Service has adopted a Public Service Transformation Strategy to sensitize gender in governance and gender equality. Workshops and consultation have been led by the Public Service Governance and Performance Management Division in support of developing women in leadership strategy.
Para 38) Solomon Islands 11th Parliament has four elected women out of the current 49 sitting Members of Parliament. There are two women Cabinet Ministers out of the 21 Ministers. The Solomon Islands National Election Commission is headed by a woman as well.
Para 39) Solomon Islands Political Party Integrity Act 2014 provides for 10% of seats within Parties shall be reserved for female members. This is an initiative to keep encouraging women to take on leadership roles in all spheres of the decision-making process.
Para 53) The Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 is in compliance with the spirit and purpose of CEDAW. These covers matters relating to the definition of consent and strengthening the provisions for “Rape”.
Para 56) Protecting the rights of women and girls is advocated by the Women’s Development Division and the Government ministries annually through, the Sixteen days of Women activism, International Women’s Day, Campaign against Gender Based Violence, and the International Day of Rural Women. The Family Protection Act 2014 awareness are shared with the communities, on the importance to safeguard families for a better and peaceful home, awareness is also done in the Public service through the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM).
Para 57) Gender mainstreaming workshop was conducted by the Ministry of Public Service in May 2018, for Human Resource Managers and Gender Focal points in the Public Service.
Para 58) The economic empowerment of women remains a priority of the government for women to realize their human rights. Six focused areas of the economic empowerment agenda are: • Gender mainstreaming; • Financial inclusion through finance literacy; • Provide enterprise development and business training; • Creating an enabling environment; • Research and knowledge sharing; • Strengthen the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA).
Para 59) With the support of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, the establishment of saving clubs and access to microfinance and credit for women is growing in particular for market vendors. Women’s Development Division of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs is in the final stages of completing a savings guide. To date, there is around 116 savings club across Solomon Islands.
Para 60) The amendment of the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund Act (2018) provides a framework to establish a National Provident Fund “YouSave” programme, for long term savings scheme and retirement funds for the rural populations. The programme allows for many without Bank accounts to open an account to their name.
Para 61) Solomon Islands National Gender Equality and Women’s Development policy aligns the national framework with the international and regional commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Para 62) The Government is conducting a nationwide consultation on the Traditional Governance and Customs Facilitation Bill. The proposed bill is to promote, preserve and recognize traditional norms, values and practice: especially the matrilineal system practiced by a number of diverse ethnic and tribal populations in the country. The proposal is to have customary law reflect the matrilineal system in the decision making of traditional governance structures.
Para 63) Solomon Islands has in place a Family Protection Act (FPA) 2014, which provides greater protection and access to justice for families, girls, women and children, persons with disabilities and victims of gender violence. The Act criminalizes domestic violence, protection and support mechanism for gender violence survivors. There is also a Child and Family Welfare Act (2017) that seeks to address the welfare and protection of children. The Act empowers the courts, Police, Social welfare and health care professionals to assist the victims.
Para 64) Solomon Islands established a National SAFENET referral network in 2013. The SAFENET referral assists victims to obtain access to justice, health, legal and related support services. SAFENET has progressively strengthened with the training of police officers, of which some 650 were trained from 2016 to 2017. SAFENET has been equipped with operating procedures, and guidelines.
Para 65) SAFENET in partnership with UN Women is now established in four of the nine provinces in the country as of 2018. The provinces are Western, Makira, Temotu and Isabel. SAFENET is currently being monitored by Solomon Islands Ministry of Women Youth, Children and Family Affairs in coordination with UN Women.

UN Compilation:
Para 31) The United Nations country team noted that women in Solomon Islands remained underrepresented in formal employment. Women comprised 46 per cent of the formal labour market and 36 per cent of employees in public service. Discriminatory provisions in the Labour Act 1960 restricted women’s employment rights.
Para 38) The United Nations country team noted that prevalence rates of gender-based violence in Solomon Islands were almost twice the global average. It also noted that, since measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 had limited movement and encouraged home isolation, the number of women seeking domestic violence support services had increased.
Para 39) The United Nations country team noted that in the 2019 election, only 4 of the 13 political parties had endorsed more than the required 10 per cent of women candidates under the 2014 Political Parties Act. However, more women had become affiliated with political parties: 65 per cent of women contested as members of political parties in 2019, as opposed to 24 per cent in 2010.
Para 46) CRC expressed serious concerns about: the reportedly high level of abuse of children, including domestic violence and sexual abuse, and the reported sexual exploitation of girls in the logging and tourism industry; inadequate resources to enforce the laws designated to protect children from all forms of abuse; inadequate structures in place to support child victims of violence and abuse, such as shelters, counselling, rehabilitation and reintegration procedures for child victims of crimes, or special procedures for child witnesses involved in court proceedings; and the shortage of specialized personnel in the Social Welfare Division.
Para 54) The United Nations country team noted that women with disabilities experienced higher levels of violence …

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 23) JS4 noted that prevalence rates of family sexual violence in the Solomon Islands, including physical and sexual abuse were one of the highest in the world, reported at approximately 64 per cent in 2018.
Para 47) JS2 noted the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs’ (MWYCFA) Temporary Special Measures intended to allocate 3 reserved seats for women in Provincial Assemblies to advance women in leadership and decision making. However, the current Provincial Government Act 1997 restricted Provinces from setting quotas for women on their Provincial Assemblies.
Para 50) JS2 noted that in the current national government, there are 3 female parliamentarians out of 50 Parliamentarians. At the provincial level, out of 172 seats, there are only 4 women. Money politics is another challenge because women have limited access to finances and are prone to be subjected to violence if they receive campaign contributions which are likely to be given by businesses or supporters who are men.
Para 53) JS1 stated that women’s right to education was not currently being adequately protected or ensured, with 54.5 per cent fulfilment for women vs. 57 per cent for men. The percentage for women had decreased by 4.5 per cent since the submission of the last UPR in 2015 (from 59 per cent to 54.5 per cent).

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 28) KAHRF recalled that at the UPR in 2011, the Solomon Islands received four recommendations to repeal laws criminalising sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex. KAHRF recalled the delegation's comments that the cultural context of Solomon Islands' society did not condone same-sex relationships and that any commitment to decriminalising sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex would "require thorough national consultations to address Christian doctrines and cultural perspectives on the issue". However, during the adoption of its 2011 UPR report by the Council, the Solomon Islands did note that a budget for such consultations would be allocated as part of the 2012 national budget. Since then, the Solomon Islands had not taken any active steps to implement the recommendations or bring about broader Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex rights reform, or even to hold consultations on such reform ...

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 53) JS1 stated that women’s right to education was not currently being adequately protected or ensured, with 54.5 per cent fulfilment for women vs. 57 per cent for men. The percentage for women had decreased by 4.5 per cent since the submission of the last UPR in 2015 (from 59 per cent to 54.5 per cent).