Family Planning International’s study tour to the Solomon Islands

Family Planning International recently led a study tour to the Solomon Islands, thanks to an advocacy grant from the Asia Pacific Alliance.

The purpose of the study tour was for parliamentarians and media representatives to get an on-the-ground understanding of the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) challenges in the Solomon Islands.

The study tour also sought to demonstrate the importance of Millennium Development Goal 3 (Gender equality and empowerment of women) and Goal 5 (Improved maternal health) and their relationship with sustainable economic development.

The study tour also sought to help delegates gain an understanding of the situation for women in the Solomon Islands and the role this plays in terms of their sexual and reproductive health.

The Solomon Islands was chosen for this study tour because of the many sexual and reproductive health issues in the country and the urgent need for more investment in this area. For example:

• The maternal mortality ratio is one of the highest in the Pacific region (175 deaths per 100.000 live births).
• 60% of the population is under 24 years old and a large number of young women do not gain an education above primary school.
• The adolescent fertility rate is the highest in Melanesia (67 births per 1000 women aged 15-19 years).
• Gender-based violence is extremely high.64% of women between 15-49 have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner.
• There has only ever been one female parliamentarian elected in the Solomon Islands.

You can read all about the study tour in our day by day diary below.

Tuesday 5th July

Tuesday the 5th of July marked the start of FPI’s study tour to the Solomon Islands. Freelance journalists Samantha Eichblatt and Lorna Thornber arrived at Auckland airport at 4am, and Joelle Dally, journalist with The Press, and Branwen Millar, FPI’s Project Coordinator, flew at a similar hour from Wellington; the four met up in Brisbane ahead of their flight to Honiara.

Dr Jackie Blue, MP and Chair of NZPPD, and Sumi Subramaniam Director of FPI, had flown to Honiara the previous day when they were welcomed by the New Zealand High Commission in the Solomon Islands.

Their early arrival enabled them to attend the first day of the Pacific Society for Reproductive Health’s conference Maternal Health Matters, with Jackie speaking on the NZPPD’s 2009 Open Hearing and report Making Maternal Health Matter, and the work that has been done to address the recommendations of this report.

Attendance at this conference gave Jackie and Sumi an opportunity to meet with several key stakeholders from the region who were in Honiara for the conference including the Executive Committee of the Pacific Society for Reproductive Health, delegates from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RANZCOG), and the Solomon Islands government.

The conference brought together participants from across the Pacific. Jackie was also able to speak with the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Hon. Danny Philip and was very pleased to hear his commitment to ensuring there are temporary special measures in place to reserve seats for women in Parliament ahead of the next election.

The Solomon Islands has only ever had one female MP and currently has no women MPs.

After settling into our home for the week - the Mendana Hotel - the entire delegation met with Alice Iwebu (General Secretary) and Julieanne Wickham (Programmes Manager) of YWCA Solomon Islands. YWCA is a partner organisation for FPI’s Sistas Savve project and work to create space for young women to be leaders of change. They were clearly leading by example: articulate and passionate, they spoke of the challenges they faced encouraging young women to speak up.

They talked about their slow change approach and the necessity for their equality leadership sessions for boys and men. They spoke of an unresponsive local leader who, after seeing the results of their Rise Up programme for young women wanted them to set up an office in his community.

We discussed the widespread violence against women and high rates of teenage pregnancy. Their main concern regarding the high rates of teenage pregnancies was that any schooling stops: if you’re pregnant you’re automatically expelled from school. These two women knew that they wouldn’t have the opportunities they do if they hadn’t been able to go to university.

They told us about the awareness raising they did during last years 16 days of activism against Violence Against Women - driving a truck around Munda, loud-hailer on the back, telling the driver to slow down outside the house of known perpetrators to ensure they heard their message.

They were the first of many impressive local women we met with.

Following this, New Zealand’s Acting High Commissioner, Jonathan Schwass and Aid Counsellor Sarah Wong, met and briefed the group giving us an overview of the role that New Zealand plays in the Solomon Islands. The High Commission provided the delegation with wonderful support throughout the week.

That evening the entire delegation attended the cocktail party to mark the opening of the Pacific Society for Reproductive Health conference. This was hosted by the Minister of Health, Hon. Charles Sigoto. Several people from regional organisations were in attendance, along with midwives, nurses and doctors from around the Pacific, including New Zealand.

There were also cultural performances as part of the function, welcoming participants to the Solomon Islands. This reception enabled participants to chat with people informally, getting further background information and some personal stories from those working hard to address sexual and reproductive health and rights challenges across the region.

This full-on day gave the study tour delegates a sense of what we had in store for the rest of the week!

 Wednesday 6th July

First up on Wednesday morning was a visit to the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA). Upon arrival we were met by Executive Director Michael Salini, who gave the group a short presentation about SIPPA’s work.

SIPPA is a Member Association of the International Planned Parenthood Association (IPPF), the leading provider of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights services in the Solomon Islands, and a partner of FPI. Along with the YWCA, SIPPA is a project partner for FPI’s Sistas Savve project. 

Michael was joined by four of his staff members George Pitakoe (Media and IEC Project Officer), Ben Angoa (HIV Project Officer), Alfred Ngire (Nurse), and Oscar Watesao (Adolescent Project Officer). As well as providing information and services, SIPPA plays an integral advocacy role in the country – with programme working with community and faith based leaders.

A school principal who had attended a SIPPA information session said: “After witnessing all the presentations it is clear that the very students we look after and teach every day are the most at risk group of people.”

A power cut during our tour of the clinic highlighted the difficult circumstances people have to operate in on a daily basis in Honiara. Our visit coincided with the day the doctor visits the clinic and the queue stretched out the door.

After lunch, we made our way to visit a programme conducted by Save the Children for out-of-school youth. The Peer to Peer Education by Children project covered different topics every week such as ‘What is love’, ‘Alcohol and drugs’, ‘Children’s rights’, ‘Contraception’, ‘STIs’, ‘Health and hygiene’, ‘Violence and abuse’, and ‘Preparing for the future’.

It became clear to delegates that these young people were not used to being asked what they think or how they feel about things. Although education is free in the Solomon Islands, many families cannot afford the costs associated with school attendance, and the recent conflict in the Solomon Islands meant that many young people were not able to attend school. 

The day ended with a discussion with Oxfam and World Vision staff about their impressive programmes which are working to address sexual and reproductive health and rights issues in the Solomon Islands.

That evening the journalists on the delegation enjoyed dinner with local Solomon Island journalists, and Jackie Blue and Sumi Subramaniam were hosted at a dinner by Jonathan Schwass.

In attendance was Hon. Dickson Mua, the Minister of Women Youth and Children’s Affairs; the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Ethel Sigimanu; and Florence Taro who works in the Family Violence Unit of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

Ethel and Florence gave the group an update on what the Solomon Islands government is doing to address Gender Based Violence, through the police and at a policy level. 

Thursday 7th July

Originally we were supposed to spend Thursday in Auki, on Malaita, meeting with Eric Sogote’e the nurse for MISHIM, an FPI/SIPPA project working with men to improve sexual health in Malaita. Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to make the trip as flights were cancelled due to a land dispute at Auki airport.

Instead we visited the Christian Care Centre - this visit ended up being the highlight for all on the study tour.

We had heard about high rates of violence against women from everyone we met with: 64% of women in the Solomon Islands have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. The Christian Care Centre visit really brought home the broad affects of this.

Violence against women and girls impacts on all aspect of their lives – their physical and mental well being, their confidence, their educational and economic opportunities, their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Sister Doreen and her volunteers showed a huge amount of generosity with their time. As did the women from the centre who were willing to share their stories. They provide an integral service with minimal support; there is frequently a higher demand for services, than spaces to accommodate women.

It was encouraging to hear how the Centre is working with the police, to improve reporting and (hopefully) domestic violence convictions. Journalist Sam Eichblatt has written a blog on the visit.

The 7th of July is Independence Day in the Solomon Islands - a public holiday - and there were several official events marking the occasion, and it was at one such event the Prime Minister talked about reserved seats for women. After our visit to the Christian Care Centre, everyone had a free afternoon to explore the sights and sounds of Honiara.

Friday 8th July

Friday was another busy day with a series of meetings. First up, Alice Pollard – a wonderful leader who has worked tirelessly to improve the lot of women in the Solomons. Alice is the Vice-President of the Solomon Islands democratic party and runs a rural based women’s association since 1999 which has a membership of over 600 women.

The NGO works to up-skill rural women in income generating skills, population and reproductive health issues, HIV/STIs etc. Alice says that it is challenging to persuade rural women to take up leadership positions, within their communities. Alice also conducts a leadership training course for women called “Leadership Solomons”, especially looking at ethical leadership issues.

Next we met with Ethel Sigimanu – the Permanent Secretary of Women, Children and Youth Affairs. Jackie had enjoyed dinner with Ethel two nights before and was very excited to hear more about her work.

Ethel has faced a bit of an uphill battle during her time at the Ministry – ‘Where women’s issues are concerned they are very much on the fringes’, but her energy and passion to mainstream gender issues and ‘say to other sectors, gender issues are your issues’ means that the work of her ministry is now beginning to infiltrate other ministries.

Recently, national policies have been developed on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Women’s development, Children, and Youth. These are helping to protect women’s rights in Solomon Islands law.

The area of sexual violence is a priority – currently there is no domestic violence legislation, and whilst it is possible to use the provisions to address rape in marriage, it’s very difficult. The government is looking at a review of the Family Protection Act in Solomon Islands.

A policy paper on the FPA is being drafted and will be taken to the Cabinet for approval to develop into a bill. The ministry is working at all levels to improve life for all in the Solomon Islands by empowering women – and Solomon Islanders are lucky to have the powerhouse of Ethel Sigimanu and a supportive Minister, the Hon. Dickson Mua, behind them.

The final meeting of the morning was with Lawrence Iko – head of the domestic violence unit for the police, and currently it’s only staff member. Lawrence was a compassionate man, and it was wonderful to see his commitment to his work.

For many on the study tour he restored our faith in men, after hearing stories of violence and abuse all week. Lawrence worked as a prosecutor before joining the unit but he always wanted to do something to address domestic violence: ‘This area is a stressful area. You have to have a heart to help people, if you don’t you won’t do a good job.’

Lawrence spoke of the complex system of compensation – which we had previously heard about at the Christian Care Centre: a woman who refused to have sex with her husband’s brother had to pay compensation for the shame that brought upon him; a woman who was raped was forced to pay compensation for bearing the child of her rapist – this makes it hard for Lawrence to do his job, but he is optimistic, and believes this is slowly changing. Lawrence works a lot with church and community leaders to try and change the acceptability of violence in communities.

The afternoon started with a meeting with Elsie Wickham and Audrey Manu from UN Women. It was interesting to hear how this newest UN entity will be working in the Solomon Islands. UN Women in the Solomons will be focusing on the following areas: economic security and rights of women, prevention of HIV, elimination of violence against women and achieving gender justice.

Their EVAW program is focused in Western province, Malaita and Honiara. UN Women has started a small grants program in the country in the amount of $5000 to $25000. Among the projects these grants support, are building of a new safe house for women who have experienced violence in Western Province.

The final meeting of the day was with a focus group organized by Save the Children. In small groups those on the study tour were able to speak with men who have sex with men (which is illegal in the Solomon Islands), and young women who engage in transactional sex.

These candid conversations were illuminating – hearing the experiences of gay men who have long term partners overseas, or are married with children; hearing from young women who will exchange sex for pretty much anything of value – even if it’s not much value.

The people we met with were extremely generous sharing the challenges they face day to day, the stigma and potential danger. Many had very few options available to them; but even for those who could move elsewhere, where homosexuality wasn’t illegal, their love of their country kept them there.

Saturday 9th July

On the morning of Saturday 9th July we travelled to Kofiloko to learn about Sistas Savve, an empowerment programme for young single mothers. The Sistas Savve programme is a joint partnership between FPI, SIPPA and YWCA and this visit was another highlight for participants.

Programme Coordinator Duta Bero joined the group and explained that Kofiloko was the community chosen to complete the pilot project. Sistas Savve aims to provide livelihood skills, business training and other life skills training, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights education, to young single mothers.

Sistas Savve was given its name by the young women establishing the programme because it translates from Solomon’s Pigin to English as both ‘Girls know’ and ‘Girls can’ – reflecting the innate knowledge and abilities that young women possess.

The delegates spent the morning talking to participants, learning about their experiences in the programme and meeting their children. The Sistas Savve graduates work together as a group – making and selling banana chips, cordial, baskets and bags.

The education and literacy level varied greatly amongst participants, but learning about contraception was important to all of them – as sexuality education is taught only in secondary schools in the Solomon Islands, many of the young mothers had never received any.

The participants were unanimous in the most valuable part of the training programme – self-esteem: they now knew they were worth something, and were able to provide better lives for their children.

The final visit of the study tour was to the National Referral Hospital where Beverley Herbert, a New Zealander living in Honiara, showed us around. The National Referral Hospital is the main hospital in the Solomon Islands.

Hard working staff and basic drug and equipment stocks ensure the hospital can carry out its duties. However, there was no shortage of broken air-conditioners, incubation units and other equipment, which, if they were all functional, would improve the general operations of the hospital.

It was interesting for delegates on the study tour to see the work being done to improve the facilities, and the importance placed on providing space for patients’ families.

There were several people having picnics on the grassy areas, and children gathered outside the maternal ward with gifts for their new siblings.

A well earned-visit to the beach, followed by a final group dinner concluded the end of the study tour – a very busy and full on week for all involved. FPI received fantastic support from those we met with in country for which we are very grateful.

All of the study tour delegates found the study tour a powerful way to see and hear about the sexual and reproductive health and rights challenges first hand. Hearing the stories of individuals directly, alongside the statistics and numbers, was an affecting experience. It was incredibly humbling to see the hard work and dedication of those working to address these in the Solomon Islands.

The team came back with a renewed commitment to addressing the sexual and reproductive health and rights challenges in the Solomon Islands, and across the Pacific.