16th May 2025
Honiara, Solomon Islands – The Solomon Islands “Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini” (SIEVAP) coalition has officially handed over the ‘Make it 18’ report to the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs (MJLA), marking a significant step towards reforming the country’s marriage laws.
During a special handover ceremony in Honiara, Mr. George Hoa’au, Permanent Secretary of MJLA, commended the efforts of the coalition and its partner NGOs. “I acknowledge the work of the NGOs in submitting this report because it provides needed evidence for the reforms we want to make, especially the Islanders Marriage Act 1945,” he said.
The report is the result of child-friendly consultations conducted by Save the Children, World Vision, and ChildFund in Honiara, Choiseul, Western, and Malaita provinces. These consultations aimed to gather young voices and community perspectives on raising the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18 years.
SIEVAP, supported by the New Zealand Government, is a collaborative effort between World Vision, ChildFund, and Save the Children. Together, the coalition is advocating for stronger legal protections to ensure a safer and brighter future for children in the Solomon Islands.
The ‘Make it 18’ campaign reflects a growing movement to align the country’s laws with international standards and better protect children, especially girls, from early and forced marriage.
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Thoughts? Iumi stori
[Source: SCSI]
