From 2010-2013, the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) implemented a program in the Solomon Islands to help prevent and reduce human trafficking by strengthening the country’s legal mechanisms. With support from the US Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, ABA ROLI worked with local partners in the Solomon Islands to develop a legislative framework to prevent and deter human trafficking; bolster policies that increase access to quality services for human-trafficking survivors; enhance witness and victim protection; develop a cadre of young lawyers to serve as human trafficking experts within government and non-governmental institutions; and raise awareness about the threat of human trafficking and about prevention.
While information on the status of human trafficking in the Solomon Islands is very limited, reports showed growing trends of trafficking in girls and women for sexual exploitation to logging camps and local fishing boats. Women from Southeast Asia and China are reportedly transported to the capital, Honiara, for forced prostitution, and the US Department of State has expressed concern about child-sex tourism.
Over the three years, ABA ROLI worked with more than 150 stakeholders from across the Solomon Islands to coordinate anti-human trafficking activities.
Strengthening the Legal Framework
ABA ROLI sought to strengthen legal protections against human trafficking and to provide government officials and the legal community with resources that can improve the country’s response to this crime. ABA ROLI worked with government officials and other stakeholders to analyze the country’s existing and draft anti-human trafficking laws and to incorporate international standards and best practices.
Enhancing Local Capacity and Raising Awareness
ABA ROLI supported local legal experts in promoting policy reform, in enhancing implementation of existing laws, and in raising public awareness. ABA ROLI's fellowship program trained young lawyers to serve as human trafficking experts within different governmental and non-governmental organizations. Additionally, ABA ROLI hosted stakeholder meetings to increase awareness of human trafficking and to help formulate strong legal protections and preemptive policy responses.
Strengthening Data Collection
Together with local partners, ABA ROLI worked to strengthen data collection by legal service providers and law enforcement officials, which will improve reporting on the crime to aid prosecutions and enhance the services available to survivors. Through a series of joint and individual meetings with local stakeholders, ABA ROLI and local partners developed gender-sensitive procedures and protocols for responding to alleged cases of human trafficking, including for the collection of data and evidence, for witness interviews, and for referral and intake systems. Based on the data collected in earlier phases of the program, ABA ROLI developed a policy paper summarizing findings and making recommendations for policy and legal responses to address human trafficking. The paper was widely distributed among government agencies, law enforcement officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community leaders and donors.
Together with local partners, we worked to strengthen data collection by legal service providers and by law enforcement officials, which strived to improve reporting on the crime and thus aid prosecutions and enhance the services available to survivors. Through both one-on-one and group meetings with stakeholders, ABA ROLI and its local partners developed gender-sensitive procedures and protocols for responding to alleged cases of human trafficking, including on the collection of data and evidence, witness interviews, referrals, and intake systems. We trained community leaders on data collection and on protocols, with a particular emphasis on reaching rural leaders.
Building Awareness of Human Trafficking
ABA ROLI supported the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) in hosting public forums and focus groups with young people, adults, and community leaders across the country. SICA distributed the policy paper to community members and conduct media outreach programs. This approach promoted a collaborative, transparent government response to preventing and prosecuting trafficking in persons.
Promoting Legal Aid
In partnership with the Family Support Centre (FSC), ABA ROLI supported broader paralegal and legal services for human trafficking survivors. The FSC also served as a community resource on many issues, including domestic violence. Together with an international expert, the ABA ROLI-supported FSC attorney conducted training sessions to improve the legal community’s ability to prosecute human traffickers, even in the absence of specific anti-human trafficking laws. The attorney continued to develop resource materials for social workers and attorneys representing human trafficking survivors in legal proceedings.
Emphasizing Regional Collaboration
ABA ROLI’s program provided support for two Solomon Islanders to attend regional conferences focused on combating human trafficking in the Pacific region. The events provided a forum for participants to share information and to learn from regional counterparts about best practices and lessons learned.
Several Solomon Islands officials, representing the departments of immigration and of social welfare, traveled with the FSC attorney as part of a study tour to Manila, Philippines. While there, they visited with counterparts and studied the Philippines’ integrated approach to combating human trafficking. Upon their return to the Solomon Islands, the participants shared their impressions and lessons learned with Solomon Islands stakeholders during a conference on human trafficking. To further encourage regional collaboration and information sharing by Solomon Islands organizations, ABA ROLI promoted the use of international online resources and clearinghouses and will offered suggestions for utilizing those resources to meet local needs and to enhance local efforts.