BY INDY MAEALASIA
The legal marriage age in Solomon Islands could soon rise from 15 to 18, as the government moves to review the Islanders’ Marriage Act 1945.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET), Peter Shanel Agovaka, told Parliament on Monday, August 4, 2025, that the proposed change in a section of the act aims to align marriage laws with other standards.
“We currently allow marriage at 15 years old. We want to change that to 18, which is also the legal voting age. We are making this change so that it is compatible with other legal matters,” Agovaka said.
Moreover, the move aligns with international human rights standards and growing calls for stronger child protection laws.
According to the “Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini”report, one in five girls in Solomon Islands are married before the age of 18, a figure that increases to one in four in rural areas.
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