BY GEORGINA KEKEA

40 rural women leaders from Guadalcanal, Malaita and Western province are expected to participate in a two days peacebuilding program, commencing today. A statement from UN Women says it is their intention to build the skills and confidence of the women leaders to engage in policy discussion with provincial and national authorities.

“We will introduce the women leaders to the “hard” issues that came out of the Provincial and National Dialogue process that culminated in a set of resolutions to be implemented at national and provincial level”, the statement says. The agenda of the workshop includes sessions on inclusive political participation, land issues, decentralization, integrity and reparations.

Concretely, the objectives of the workshop are to empower women leaders to engage in policy discussions with Executives and other government officials, as well as with traditional and religious leaders, discuss five national dialogue themes (participation, land, decentralisation, integrity, reparations) and agree on their specific gender dimensions, identify provincial gender and peacebuilding priorities, considering the National and Provincial Women Policy and 2019 National Elections, explore ways to link and learn with women leaders across provinces and with relevant government entities, women’s groups and other stakeholders at national level and to discuss the purpose and functions of a Provincial Women Caucus to increase women’s political participation in decision-making.

UN Women in partnership with Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) is conducting this dialogue workshop.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE result of the National Perception Survey on peacebuilding has highlighted a number of critical issues that requires further collaboration.

Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on behalf of the government said this issue is however seen as an enormous challenge but Solomon Islands government welcomes the results and looks forward to increased cooperation from partners and the public to find more lasting solutions.

He said he was informed of the many inceptions contained in the results which include the following:

The need to work harder on building and bosting confidence in public, uncertainty of the direction the Solomon Islands is heading , confidence that peace will be maintained, mixed perception on the government’s handling of issues from the tension period and dissatisfaction of government in addressing unfinished issues from the past.

DPM Sogavare said the results are crucial and important as they will be used to evaluate existing mechanisms to address areas identified by the results and beside they will also form the basis of an advice to cabinet as to a way forward.

“These results will no doubt provide an objective window for policy and decisions makers in making future directions on our path to peacebuilding and also it did raised the need for the continued combined concerted effort by government, partners and people to work together in achieving our ultimate goals and peace,” he said.

DPM said the survey also indicates that the most important actions for ensuring lasting peace in Solomon Islands are identified as increased access to economic opportunities, employment and provisions of greater power to provincial authorities

He said with regards to address the most pressing national issues from the survey the government is continuously working hard to improve economic opportunities and employment, address the issues of corruption and providing basic services such as health and education.

“The government has tasked the National Reparation working group to come up with a work plan and look at how to accelerate our reparation framework and programme.

“We believe that peacebuilding activities need to be linked to the overall development efforts.

“This requires our cooperation and hard work. But as the survey findings found, we have a strong basis as this survey indicated that 97.7 percent of respondents said they are proud to be Solomon Islanders which is a good basis to work together as one country working on one future,” Sogavare said.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

SOLOMON Islands Environmental Law Association (SIELA) was established 2009 with the vision to be the national environmental association that envisions a Solomon Islands that appreciates the value of the natural environment.

It was formerly known as the Solomon Islands Lawyers Association back in 2009.

This is according to Ms Senoveva Mauli, chair of SIELA (Solomon Islands Environmental Law Association).

She said that by 2014, the association was revived and re-launched as the Solomon Islands Environmental Law Association (SIELA) and a non-profitable organization.

Ms Mauli who is an environmentalist expressed that she joined the association as chair at that time to assist in explaining law or ordinance based on the environment.

She said the first training they held took place three years ago and was organized for students from SINU (Solomon Islands National University).

Ms Mauli added that they also carried out training for enforcement officers from the Fisheries, Forestry and Mines ministries.

She said SIELA’s six goals target the community and individuals, law reform commission, Members of Parliament, NGOs, educational institutions and the private sector with the overall goal of ensuring that they all have access to quality information.

Ms Mauli emphasized that their objectives are; to encourage environmental management skills, promote law, increase understanding of communities, engage in and advocate for law reform, provide training and legal advice.

Some of SIELA’s achievements to date include; the finalization of documents, re-launch of project manual, strategic plan document and the SIELA capacity needs document.

Ms. Mauli also mentioned that an executive board “Green Council” was formed and currently has 74 members comprising of lawyers, non-lawyers, students and two organizations.

The association since its inception has conducted activities such as trainings, stakeholders’ consultations and a pilot provincial visit.

Membership is open to individuals and incorporated bodies.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

PRIME Minister Abe of Japan has pledged to strengthen diplomatic relations between Solomon Islands and Japan.

He expressed this statement at the recent bilateral meeting with the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Honorable Rick Houenipwela and his delegation in Japan.

He said that this year is the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Japan and the Solomon Islands and he would like to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

At the same time, maritime security, maritime security capabilities, climate change, disaster prevention and other issues that the region is commonly faced with has been discussed. Also possible ways to tackle this issues had been raised in this discussions.

Meanwhile, PM Houenipwela thanked Japan for their support in the different areas over the years, including maintenance of the Honiara airport.

In addition, PM Abe asked for due consideration for the stable operation of Japanese fishing vessels, cooperation in the collection project of the remains of Japanese soldier’s in World War Two and cooperation for the early resolution of the abduction issue.

Discussions between the two leaders took place during PM’s Hou trip to the eighth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM8) in Japan.