Children in Solomon Islands continue to experience violence despite laws protecting them, study finds

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Despite the presence of an established policy framework to ensure protection of all children in the country, children in Solomon Islands continue to experience multiple forms of violence at significant levels.

A study on the Economic Cost of Violence against Children (VAC) in the Solomon Islands launched yesterday at Heritage Park Hotel shows this.

The VAC was launched by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) with the Ministry of Health’s (MHMS) Social Welfare Division with support from UNICEF Child Protection Partners Dialogue.

Findings from the 2015 Solomon Islands Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) suggest that 85.5 percent of children in Solomon Islands aged 2-14 years experienced some form of violent discipline, with 77.9 percent of children experiencing psychological aggression and 68.3 percent experiencing some form of physical punishment.

The DHS found that such violent discipline was more prevalent among households from poorer income quintiles, households in rural areas, and households in which the primary caregiver had lower levels of education. 

According to DHS, the total economic costs of VAC in Solomon Islands in 2021 amount to SBD1 116.1 million, equivalent to 9.13% of GDP.

These costs comprise SBD41.1 million in direct medical costs, SBD20.1 million in direct non-medical costs, SBD185.2 million in indirect tangible costs and SBD869.6 million in indirect intangible costs.

The DHS point out that this large economic burden can be avoided through targeted investments in interventions to prevent and respond to VAC that realise demonstrable gains in reducing the burden of VAC represents a strong evidence-base to advocate for increased child protection investments in Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which calls upon Member States to be committed to the protection and provision of the rights of children.

The legislative framework for this commitment is presented in the 2017 Child and Family Welfare Act, which seeks to promote the wellbeing and protection of all children in Solomon Islands.

In response to the high levels of violence against children in Solomon Islands, the MWYCFA has developed the Multi-Sectoral Child and Family Welfare System Implementation Plan 2023-2027, which outlines the Solomon Islands government’s strategy to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, and exploitation of children.