UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 112) Discussions are underway on the possible ratification of ... the CRPD.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 2) Persons with Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI) reported that of the accepted recommendations to ratify CRPD, to date, the Government had not officially given any indication or timeframe as to when it will ratify the CRPD ...

National Report:
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 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.

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 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.

Stakeholder Summary:
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).