Solomon Islands: Women to Present Submission to Truth and Reconciliation Commission

10/30/2011

HONIARA, Oct. 30, 2011—Today women from Solomon Islands will come together to present their submission to the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). More than 60 women from different regions of the country have collaborated in recording their experiences and sharing their vision for the future in this document.

“The submission is a powerful opportunity for women from Solomon Islands to share their painful past, for women to pour out feelings of frustration, ethnic difference, ethnic allegiance, Christian faith, and determination, and to participate in decision making as a key ingredient to women’s advancement and national development,” said Ruth Maetala, International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) consultant and the submission’s national coordinator. “This telling of women’s truth is the beginning of a new era.”[[{"fid":1437,"view_mode":"media_medium","attributes":{"title":"View the submission","class":"format-media_medium align-left"}}]]](/sites/default/files/Solomon-Islands-TRC-Submission-Sept-2011.pdf)

Throughout July women from around Solomon Islands came together for a series of workshops to share how they were affected by the period of violence known as “the tensions” and their recommendations for the government. After the workshops, five women formed a writing group and compiled the women’s stories into a submission to the TRC. This submission is officially being handed over to the TRC on Monday, October 31, 2011.

“Making a submission to the TRC is a valuable way for women to participate in the truth-seeking process and to have their voices heard,” said Daniela Gavshon, head of the ICTJ Honiara Office. “Women played a vital role in making peace in Solomon Islands and this is an important opportunity to have that role recognized.”

The handover is scheduled to take place at the TRC leaf hut at 2pm. Please feel free to attend to get your copy of the submission or its pictorial version.

Background

The Solomon Islands, located just east of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, consist of nearly a thousand islands divided into eight different provinces, each with its own unique culture.

The Solomon Islands gained independence from Britain in 1978, and successive governments have struggled to unite the country and develop a sense of national identity. Twenty years after independence, violence erupted in Guadalcanal (where the capital is situated) around land ownership and ethnic allegiance, causing thousands to be displaced. Militant groups were organized and the conflict continued during a period now called “the tensions,” from 1998 to 2003.

The Solomon Islands government which took office in December 2007 made national reconciliation its top priority, including the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) to shed light on past wrongdoings. The work of the TRC officially commenced on January 15, 2010.

About ICTJ

The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) works to redress and prevent the most severe violations of human rights by confronting legacies of mass abuse. ICTJ seeks holistic solutions to promote accountability and create just and peaceful societies. For more information visit www.ictj.org

Contact

Daniela Gavshon Head of Office, Solomon Islands +677 74 95223 dgavshon@ictj.org

Photo: Throughout July 2001, ICTJ's Solomon Islands program conducted workshops with women around the country in an effort to facilitate a space for them to create a women's submission to the TRC.