SOLOMON ISLANDS-SOGI-TBs-CEDAW

Concluding Observations on Report 4-5 (2025) (Link)

Status and visibility of the Convention, the Optional Protocol thereto and the Committee’s general recommendations

9. The Committee commends the State Party on its efforts to disseminate information about the Convention to its provinces and rural areas. It is concerned, however, that these efforts are not systematic and that many women, in particular rural women, older women, single women, women living in poverty, women with disabilities and lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, are unaware of their human rights under the Convention and the remedies available to claim those rights.

10. The Committee recommends that the State Party:

(a) Continue to raise awareness among women of their human rights under the Convention and the legal remedies available to them to claim violations of those rights, and ensure that information on the Convention, the Optional Protocol thereto and the Committee’s general recommendations is available to all women in accessible formats, such as Braille and sign language;…

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Constitutional and legislative framework, definition of discrimination against women and discriminatory laws

11. The Committee acknowledges the State Party’s efforts to align its legal framework with the Convention, particularly through the amendment of the Constitution to incorporate a more comprehensive definition of discrimination, including the explicit recognition of sex-based discrimination in section 15 (4). The Committee notes with concern, however:

…(d) That same-sex relationships are criminalized under sections 160, 161 and 162 of the Penal Code.

12. Recalling the links between articles 1 and 2 of the Convention and target 5.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals, on ending all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere, the Committee recommends that the State Party:

…(d) Repeal sections 160, 161 and 162 of the Penal Code, which criminalize consensual same-sex relationships.

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Women’s access to justice

15. The Committee notes with appreciation that the Public Solicitor’s Office in Honiara and in four of the nine provinces provides free legal aid, including for women who are survivors of gender-based violence, despite resource constraints. The Committee notes with concern, however:

(a) The persistent barriers to access to justice faced by women, in particular rural women, Indigenous women, older women, single women, women living in poverty, women with disabilities and lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women;

16. The Committee, recalling its general recommendation No. 33 (2015) on women’s access to justice, recommends that the State Party:

(a) Remove barriers to access to justice for women, in particular rural women, Indigenous women, older women, single women, women living in poverty, women with disabilities and lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, including by providing free legal aid and interpretation services, as well as reasonable accommodations;…

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Gender-based violence against women and girls

25. The Committee notes with appreciation the establishment in 2017 of Safenet, the national referral service designed to provide coordinated support to survivors of domestic violence. It notes with concern, however:

…(i) The absence of legislation to protect lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women from gender-based violence, hate crimes, conversion practices and institutionalized prejudice, leaving them without access to effective legal remedies, social support systems or inclusive public services.

26. Recalling its previous recommendation (CEDAW/C/SLB/CO/1-3, para. 25) and its general recommendation No. 35 (2017) on gender-based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19, as well as target 5.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, on eliminating all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, the Committee recommends that the State Party:

…(j) Adopt legislation protecting lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women from gender-based violence and discrimination; and implement a comprehensive national strategy that includes data collection, mandatory capacity-building for officials, public awareness campaigns and specialized support services, such as shelters and counselling tailored to the specific needs of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women.

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Education

33. The Committee welcomes the State Party’s commitment to increasing budget allocations aimed at enhancing access to education and safety in schools. It notes with concern, however:

…(e) The failure to adequately cover through sexual and reproductive health education such topics as contraception methods, the concept of consent, the prevention of gender-based violence and the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby limiting girls’ and women’s access to comprehensive, age-appropriate and scientifically accurate information necessary for making informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health;…

34. In line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education and the Committee’s general recommendation No. 36 (2017) on the right of girls and women to education, the Committee recommends that the State Party:

…(e) Integrate comprehensive age‑appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including on responsible sexual behaviour, modern forms of contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, into curricula at all levels of education;…

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Marriage and family relations

47. The Committee notes with concern:

…(e) The criminalization of same-sex relationships, which prevents legal recognition of diverse family formations.

48. The Committee recommends that the State Party:

…(e) Protect the rights of women in diverse family formations, including through the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships.

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Concluding Observations on Report 1-3 (2014) (Link)

[no mention]

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