Public hearings begin at Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission

	Victim of abuse giving testimony to an AI interviewer, North Malaita, 2004. © Amnesty International

The commencement of public hearings at the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission on 9 March 2010 represents a historic opportunity to address the legacy of the country’s violent past, Amnesty International said today.
 
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created with a mandate to examine the causes and impacts of the 1998-2003 armed conflict, which resulted in killings, torture and internal displacement of large numbers of Solomon Islanders.

Gender-based violence against women and girls was an entrenched feature in the five-year conflict but this violence was marginalised, if not ignored. Those responsible - whether police personnel, members of armed groups or private individuals - were rarely brought to justice.

The Commission is to conduct investigations, hold public hearings and record victims’ statements with a view to facilitating reconciliation between ethnic communities.

Amnesty International Australia Campaign Coordinator Hannah Harborow will speak at the first public hearing in Honiara.

“We hope the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will ensure that those who suffered during the conflict are heard and their experiences acknowledged,” said Hannah Harborow.

“Amnesty International closely monitored the human rights situation during the ethnic conflict in the Solomon Islands, with a particular focus on the violation of the rights of the most vulnerable members of the community.“

Amnesty International hopes that the hearings give women who experienced violence an opportunity to tell their stories without fear of reprisals.

“During the course of these public hearings we need to be able to hear the voices of women who suffered violence, such as rape or assault, and other human rights violations,” said Hannah Harborow.

“We hope that women are actively encouraged to attend and given sufficient opportunities to talk about their experiences without fear, and that they are protected from reprisals by members of their own families or by those of the perpetrators.”

Amnesty International believes that the work of the Commission is an opportunity for the Solomon Islands Government to recommit to its international human rights obligations. Amnesty International remains concerned, however, about certain limitations on the use of information gathered by the Commission and believes that its mandate should have allowed for findings to be made available for possible use in criminal prosecutions.
 

Background
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the Solomon Islands is mandated to “promote national unity and reconciliation” by investigating human rights violations and abuses which occurred between January 1998 and 23 July 2003. It is composed of five members, three nationals of the Solomon Islands and two nationals of other countries.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act was passed by the National Parliament of Solomon Islands on 28 August 2008.
 

Read more: Need for truth, justice & reparations in the Solomon Islands (News, 29 April 2009)