Domestic violence in the Solomon Islands

Abstract

The Solomon Islands has one of the highest rates of family and sexual violence (FSV) in the world with 64% of women aged 15–49 have reported physical and/or sexual abuse by a partner. The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in the capital, Honiara, is the only tertiary hospital for the country. Our 4-week medical elective at the NRH was spent reflecting on healthcare challenges including FSV, with the aim of identifying cases of FSV and assessing on the current strategies to improve care for victims. Throughout our placement, we encountered many cases of probable FSV, particularly in the Emergency Department and Obstetrics and Gynecology. These patients were often not managed effectively, largely due to time pressures and overcrowding in the hospital. However, we identified a number of strategies, which have recently been implemented in order to help FSV victims in the Solomon Islands. These include strategies within the healthcare setting, in particular, the commencement of FSV reporting within the hospital, and the production of a manual to enable healthcare worker education on the issue. Strategies within the criminal justice system are also in place. These include recent changes in legislation and the work of the volunteer police force, Royal Assist Mission to the Solomon Islands, to improve attitudes toward FSV. These approaches to tackle the problem of FSV are currently in their early stages and have largely stemmed from Western policies and ideals. This report concludes that more time is needed to accurately assess the impact of the current changes before further recommendations are made.

Experience and impact of gender-based violence in Honiara, Solomon Islands: a cross-sectional study recording violence over a 12-month period

“…In our study, few women who experienced or witnessed gender-based violence reported the violence to an authority. This is consistent with other data that has found low rates of reporting of gender-based violence to formal authorities 17 28 30. There may be several reasons for this under-reporting including: social perceptions of violence against women, shame, financial barriers, fear of retribution, lack of awareness of services available for women who experience violence and lack of trust in healthcare workers, police or law enforcement 30–33.…”

“…The United Nations (UN) Human Development Index ranks the Solomon Islands as a low development country, with a rank of 152 out of 189 countries,16 with a history of political instability and conflict interrupting government services such as health and education 15. Unusual injury patterns which would raise concerns in Western hospitals are often not investigated in detail in the Solomon Islands, mostly due to limited resources, with healthcare workers having to accept the history provided 17. Often the cycle of abuse is carried onto subsequent generations; commonly perpetrators and victims have experienced childhood or adult trauma themselves 18 19…”

“…The existing national policy for gender equality in the Solomon Islands was written by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,21 22 and in mid-2002 was translated through to the provinces, with the Ministry of Provincial Government implementing requirements for provincial performance assessments. However, there is a long way to go until these policies have a long-lasting impact on the incidence and impact of gender-based violence in the Solomon Islands 17…”

“…There are three peer-reviewed studies examining gender-based violence in the Solomon Islands. One is a retrospective chart review of Solomon Islands hospital data,23 while another documents personal experiences of gender-based violence from overseas healthcare workers on placement 17. There is also a further descriptive study examining pregnant women’s experiences of intimate-partner violence 24.…”

Honiara: Village-City of Solomon Islands

“…Ming et al 2016;Waka Mere 2019. Solomon Islands has high rates of family and sexual violence: 64 per cent of women aged 19 to 49 surveyed at the National Referral Hospital between 1994 and 2011 reported physical and sexual abuse from a partner.…”