Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands has a population of approximately 611,343 people (2017 census). The national Parliament has 50 members. Elections are held every 4 years. The electoral system uses a first-past-the-post system, which has made it very difficult for women to get elected. Since Independence, for 45 years, only six (6) women has ever been voted into Parliament. At Provincial Assembly Level only sixteen (16) women have ever been voted into Provincial Assemblies at different terms.
In August 2012, history was made when Hon Vika Lusibaea was elected to the National Parliament in a by-election, She was only the second women ever elected, after Hon Hilda Kari was in Parliament from 1989 to 2001. Notably, Hon Lusibaea ran in the same seat as her husband, after he lost his seat in Parliament and his position in the Cabinet upon being convicted for grievous bodily harm and assaulting a police officer.
At the national general election on 19 November 2014, Hon Lusibaea lost her seat but Hon Frida Soriacomua was elected when she beat the incumbent Clay Forau by a margin of just 22 votes. However, on 8 October 2018, following an election petition filed by Forau, the High Court ruled that Minister Freda Soriacomua was guilty voter bribery, and subsequently lost her seat in Parliament. In the same term of Parliament Hon. Lanelle Tanangada was elected as the independent representative for Gizo/Kolombangara constituency in a May 2018 by-election after her husband Jimson Tanangada lost the seat after being convicted of bribing voters during the 2014 election. She was the first woman in the Western Province elected to the Parliament, On 18 October 2019, she was sworn in as Minister for Women, Youth and Children Affairs.
The next national general election was held on 3 April 2019. According to news reports, there were just over 359,000 registered voters, which was a significant increase of just over 71,000 more voters since the last elections in 2014. At the end of the nomination period, 333 candidates were nominated, which was lower than the 2014 elections which had 447 candidates. The percentage of women candidates increased for the 2019 Elections. In the 2010 election, 4.9% (25) of candidates were women, 5.8% (26) women candidates in 2014, and a record 7.8% (26) of women candidates in 2019. Interestingly, out of the 26 women candidates, 18 ran under various political parties, and 8 ran as independent candidates. The new Parliament elected 13 new MPs, with Hons Lanelle Tanangada and Hon Freda Soriacomua among the 37 MPs who retained their seats. A by-election for the East Makira constituency was held on 11 December 2019 following the untimely passing of Charles Maefai, a first time MP who had only been elected three months earlier. In a historic result, his wife Lillian Maefai won the East Makira constituency, becoming the third woman elected to the current parliament and setting a new record for women’s representation in the 50 member house.
After a 12-month delay, the 12th Solomon Islands national general elections were held on 17 April 2024. For the first time, joint elections were held, with most provincial assemblies and the Honiara City Council also going to the polls. Eight women were elected overall — three to the national parliament, two to Honiara City Council (HCC) and three to provincial assemblies (PA) — representing significant individual achievements. Hon Freda Soriacomua was returned for a third term, alongside two new MPs. Two provincial representatives and one HCC Councillor were also returned, alongside a new councillor and one new PA representative.
The percentage of women candidates has remained stable but low over time. In the 2010 election, 25 (4.9%) candidates were women. In the 2014 election, there were 26 (5.8%) women candidates. In 2019, there was a record 26 women candidates (7.8%) nominated. Of those, 18 ran under various political parties, and 8 ran as independent candidates. In the 2024 national elections, 20 women stood out of 334 candidates (5.9%). Six women ran as independents (30% of female candidates). There is now a legislative mandate for parties to include at least 10% women candidates under the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014, but loopholes greatly limit its impact. In 2024, 13 parties contested the election. Of these, six endorsed no women at all. Only four parties met the 10 per cent threshold — the Green Party (one out of two candidates), the People’s Liberal Democratic Party (five out of 30 candidates), the Solomon Islands People’s First Party (two out of seven candidates) and the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (two out of 17 candidates).
Solomon Islands has made a number of attempts to introduce temporary special measures for women, to increase the number of women elected to the National Parliament. In 2008, the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) mandated the Constituency Boundaries Commission to review the number of MPs currently elected to Parliament. This was used as an entry-point for women’s groups to propose the introduction of 10 reserved seats for women – 1 seat for each of Solomon Islands nine provinces and 1 seat for the capital city of Honiara. The proposal did not attract the support of the Cabinet. However, following the 2010 national elections, the new Government indicated in its Policy Statement that the Government would look at options for women’s reserved seats as part of a broader electoral boundaries review. In 2017, TSMs were revived again when the SIG commissioned an Electoral Taskforce to review the current electoral system. The White Paper produced included a proposal for 10 reserved seats for women, using a “best loser” system rather than a separate vote for the seat. Prior to the 2024 election, the SIG Cabinet endorsed a proposal to amend electoral legislation to allow for reserved seats for women in provincial assemblies, but following the elections and the formation of a new Government, this proposal has not yet moved forward. IT is understood the Ministry for WYCFA is still working on including TSMs for women in provincial assemblies.
Current National Women MPs
Hon Cathy Launa Nori
Party: OUR Party
Term: 2024 - current
Electorate: Maringe/ Kokota
Province: Isabel
Political Status: Member of Parliament
Hon Choylin Yim Douglas
Party: OUR Party
Term: 2024 - current
Electorate: Ngella
Province: Central
Political Status: MP
Hon Freda Tuki Soriocomua
Party: People’s Alliance Party
Term: 2014-2018; 2019-2024; 2024-current
Electorate: Temotu Vatud
Province: Temotu
Political Status: Minister for Women, Youth, and Children's Affairs
Hon Mary Daniella Zae Gauru
Party: OUR Party
Term: Jun-25 - current
Electorate: West Guadalcanal
Province: Guadalcanal
Political Status: MP
Current Sub-National Women MPs
Councillor Dorah Huapi’I Irofia
Party: N/A
Term: 2019-24; 2024-current
Electorate: Cruz ward
Province: Honiara City Council
Political Status: Honiara City Councillor
Councillor Lydia Yeo
Party: OUR Party
Term: 2024 - current
Electorate: Honiara
Province: Guadalcanal
Political Status: Honiara City Council
Hon Rhoda Sikilabu
Party: Independent
Term: 2006-11; 2011-15; 2022-24; 2024-cureent
Electorate: Sigana Ward
Province: Isabel
Political Status: Premier
Hon Roselyn Emy Akomu
Party: Independent
Term: 2024 - current
Electorate: Luaniua
Province: Malaita
Political Status: Provincial Assembly Member
Hon. Jocelyn Wesley Ipei
Party: Independent
Term: N/A
Electorate: Nea/No'ole Ward 10, Santa Cruz Islands
Province: Teamotu Province
Political Status: Member of Provincial Assembly