The Ministry of Women, Youth, and Children and Family Affairs and UNICEF and its partners held a child protection dialogue on Thursday, at the Heritage Park Hotel to confront the escalating risks facing children in the Solomon Islands, calling for coordinated action across government, civil society, and international partners.
The event co- hosted by Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs and UNICEF, the “Child Protection Partners Dialogue” brought together representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Save the Children Australia, ChildFund NZ, Seif Ples, and key government ministries including Justice, Education, and Health.
The event theme- “Strengthening Child Protection for a Safer and Secure Future for the Children of Solomon Islands”- underscored the urgency of the reform.
Dr. Cedric Alependava, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children Affairs, in his opening remarks warned; “The total economic cost of child abuse and neglect in the Solomon Islands is estimated at SBD 1.116 billion- equivalent to 9.13 percent of our national GDP.”
He described violence against children as not only a moral crisis but a national development threat, urging stakeholders to treat child protect as a cross- sectoral priority.
“We must move beyond isolated interventions. Health, education, law enforcement, and social welfare must work together under the Child and Family Welfare System Multi-Sectoral Implementations Plan 2022-2024.”
The event also marked the soft launched of the Child Protection Partners Dialogue Platform, a new coordination mechanism designed to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and ensure sustained momentum beyond the event.
The platform will serve as a space for ongoing dialogue, resource sharing, policy alignment across sectors.
The Solomon Island’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was cited as key Milestone, but Dialogue Partners emphasized that legal commitments must be matched by practical enforcement and sustained funding.
“Together, let us translate the evidence and lessons before us into tangible actions-investing in prevention, coordination, and accountability to ensure that every child in Solomon Islands grow up free from violence, with hope and opportunity for a better future,” said Dr. Alependava.
By ANDRIANAH KOLE
Solomon Star, Honiara.
