Save the Children Solomon Islands and Development Services Exchange (DSE) have jointly appealed to the Solomon Islands Government to take stronger and more urgent action to protect children’s rights, ahead of the country’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pre-Session in Geneva.
According to a recent Press Statement by Save The Children the UPR Pre-Session will be held from 10 to 13 February, where Solomon Islands’ human rights record will be examined as part of the fourth UPR cycle of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Save the Children Solomon Islands will participate in the pre-sessions, presenting child rights-focused recommendations that include stronger enforcement of laws to end child marriage and violence against children, as well as increased investment in child protection, education and health systems.
Country Director for Save the Children Solomon Islands, Tory Clawson, said the review presents a critical opportunity for the Government to deliver meaningful change for children across the country.
“The Solomon Islands Government has a great opportunity to dramatically improve the ability of children to grow up healthy, safe and educated by ending child marriage,” Ms Clawson said.
“Now is the moment for the Government to follow through on its commitment to raise the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18.” he adds.
While acknowledging progress through policy commitments and national strategies, Save the Children and DSE noted that significant gaps remain in implementation, resourcing and service delivery.
These challenges, they said, continue to place many children at risk, particularly girls and those living in rural and remote communities.
DSE General Secretary Jennifer Wate said the organisation remains committed to engaging in the UPR process, having contributed to previous review cycles.
“DSE has contributed to previous UPR cycles and continues this commitment in the fourth cycle,” Ms Wate said.
“We strongly support raising the minimum age of marriage to 18, as one in five girls in Solomon Islands are married before reaching adulthood.
This reform reinforces the child rights commitments we have consistently advocated for through the UPR fourth cycle.” he added.
Key concerns highlighted ahead of the pre-session include child marriage, gender-based and other forms of violence against children, limited access to early childhood education, and gaps in maternal, newborn and adolescent health services. Girls and children in rural and remote communities are reported to be the most affected.
Save the Children Solomon Islands and DSE reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the Government, civil society organisations, communities and development partners to ensure UPR recommendations are effectively implemented and result in measurable improvements in children’s lives.
The Universal Periodic Review is a unique mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council that requires all UN Member States, including Solomon Islands, to undergo a peer review of their human rights record every four and a half years.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star Gizo
