Enhancing Access to Justice in the Solomon Islands

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HONIARA – The Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) serves the people of the Solomon Islands by providing professional and quality legal services to those unable to afford private legal services. The Solomon Islands Access to Justice Project will build and strengthen the capacity of the PSO to improve greater access to justice services to all Solomon Islands people at national and provincial levels.

Representatives from across the justice sector are attending a workshop on 28 November at the Heritage Park Hotel to discuss implementation of the project over the next two years.

The PSO is conducting the workshop with support from the Solomon Islands Access to Justice Project, implemented by the PSO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the Australian Government which also funded the initial Solomon Islands Access to Justice Study report.

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Those invited to attend the workshop include the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, Judiciary and Judicial Department, Bar Association, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Correctional Service of Solomon Islands (CWSI), Solomon Islands Environmental Law Association, Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Solomon Islands Christian Association, Law Reform Commission, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), disability advocacy groups and youth groups, representatives of the World Bank, the Solomon Islands Justice Program (SIJP), the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) and the Australian Government.

Over the past year, UNDP has supported a mapping of the Solomon Islands justice agencies and the comprehensive access to justice perception survey report, which serves as important baseline information for planning and understanding of the justice framework in the Solomon Islands. These contributed to informing the design and formulation of the Solomon Islands Access to Justice Project, which was designed in September 2019. The project aims to enhance access to justice for the people of Solomon Islands regardless of age, gender or location, through supporting the PSO to offer greater access at national and provincial levels.

The workshop provides an opportunity to discuss the path of project implementation with an essential component being the establishment of Provincial Paralegals and Community Legal Advocates, together with enhanced coordination across the justice sector by strengthening partnerships and identifying opportunities for collaboration with existing programs.

For more information or media inquiries please contact:

• Ms. Grace Williams, Third Secretary, Public Diplomacy and Political, Australian High Commission. P: (677) 21561 E: [email protected]
• Ms. Rachel Abi, Information Officer, Public Solicitor’s Office. P: (677) 28406 E: [email protected]
• Mr Ednal R. Palmer, Communications Consultant, Effective Governance Team, UNDP Solomon Islands Office. P: (677) 27446/7336633 E:[email protected]

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