The Solomon Islands Government has begun reviewing its child-marriage law, with plans to consider raising the legal age to 18 — a move welcomed by Christian aid agencies, including World Vision New Zealand, which called the step “thrilling” after years of advocacy.
Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka told parliament on Aug. 4 that the review of the Islanders’ Marriage and Divorce Act 1945 is underway and could result in amendments to align the law with international human rights standards.
World Vision, an interdenominational Christian aid organization working to protect vulnerable children, has campaigned alongside Save the Children New Zealand, ChildFund New Zealand and local partners to end child marriage across the Pacific nation’s hundreds of islands. The groups say community consultations show strong public backing for raising the minimum marriage age, including for customary marriages.
The advocacy initiative was implemented by the Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini (SIEVAP) program by Save the Children, ChildFund, and World Vision Solomon Islands, supported by the New Zealand Government, launched in November 2022.
“Community consultation carried out by the three organisations found there was a groundswell of support to end child marriage and we’re pleased Solomon Islands government recognises this and the risks child marriage poses, and is preparing to make a law change,” World Vision said in a LinkedIn statement.
Proposed changes would bring the marriage law in line with other age-based thresholds, such as voting, and help close legal loopholes that advocacy groups say leave children — especially girls — vulnerable to early marriage.
The coalition agency partners formed a joint “Make It 18” campaign to advocate for a change in the Marriage Act so that the minimum marriage age is 18, releasing a report on the issue last November 2024. The campaign involved bringing together 170 participants, including 148 children, in child-friendly consultations across Honiara, Malaita, Western, and Choiseul provinces, according to Save the Children.
“Discussions explored raising the minimum age of marriage, applying it to customary marriages, and requiring documentation to prove age. Participants also discussed the necessity of consent from those to be married and their guardians, and increasing penalties for unlawful marriages,” added a campaign update by Save the Children. Many children stressed the importance of safeguarding against early marriage and shared aspirations for a brighter future.
The Solomon Islands Christian Association has also voiced support. Last year, its general secretary, Rev. Edward Koholai, said the country was “heading in the right direction” but needed to act faster to address the issue.
Advocates note that, under customary law, there is currently no minimum marriage age, despite the country’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The government has tasked the Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission with reviewing whether current legislation complies with these conventions and recommending changes.
According to UNICEF, children account for 45% of the Solomon Islands’ 756,700 residents, and one in five women are married before 18. Cultural practices, gender norms and poverty contribute to the persistence of child marriage despite existing protections.
