Asia and Oceania

Solomon Islands
Last reviewed: 09 October 2009

Country information

See entire profile

Politics

The last elections were in April 2006, and were pronounced by international observers to be mostly free and fair. 50% of sitting MPs lost their seats. No one political grouping could claim victory and party discipline is weak or non-existent. The appointment of a Prime Minister was, therefore, decided by a vote among the 50 newly elected MPs. They elected Snyder Rini as Prime Minister. This decision caused a great deal of unrest in the country leading to widespread rioting and looting in Honiara. Mr Rini subsequently stepped down and a new Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare was elected by his peers. Although a number of women stood for parliament, none were elected.

In December 2007, a new Government came to power after Prime Minister Sogavare lost a vote of confidence in Parliament. Solomon Islands MPs subsequently elected Dr Derek Sikua as their new Prime Minister.

Current domestic political issues are economic reform, particularly rural development, the regulation of the logging industry and debate on a new Federal Constitution. The next national elections are due between April and August 2010.

Human rights

The Solomon Islands is a signatory to many of the core human rights treaties but the lack of good government procedures has meant that it is unaware in many cases of its obligations and has no audit capacity against which to judge its performance. A lack of financial and other resources has also restricted the Government's ability to conform. With no universal primary education and 85% of the population living in rural areas and not part of the cash economy, there is a low awareness of rights and the workings of the judicial system. The participation of women in government and administrative roles is minimal and needs to be enhanced.

According to the UNDP Human Development Report 2007/08, the GDP per capita (PPP US$) was 2,031 in 2005. The HDR doesn’t have data from Solomon Islands on female literacy. However, the gross primary enrolment female ratio was 94% in 2005, although this dropped to 27% for gross secondary enrolment. UNICEF’s The State of Pacific Children 2008, states that primary school enrolment the Solomon Islands is 80%; there are no statistics for literacy.

A family health and safety survey carried out by the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs, reported two out of three women aged 15-49 years in the Solomon Islands who had a relationship were violently treated by their husband or boyfriend. The findings, based on a World Health Organisation multi country study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against women, said one out of 10 pregnant women report being beaten during pregnancy, and one out five of these experience being punched or kicked on the stomach.

The ethnic fighting of 1999-2000 resulted in a number of serious abuses of individual rights, in some cases by serving members of the police force who had gone over to one side or other of the militant factions.

There are no reports of political prisoners. There is a free press and radio and the Constitution provides for the right of assembly. Homosexuality remains illegal and the law is enforced.