NGOs combat child exploitation, empower young women through education, support

Non-governmental organisations in the Solomon Islands are working to combat human trafficking and empower women within their communities.

Prema Maeato is the executive director of Homes of Peace and Empowerment (HOPE) Trust, whose work includes protecting girls under 18 from commercial sexual exploitation.

“Here in Honiara, one of the things that makes them vulnerable and easy to be exploited is because of the poverty that we have, very low income,” he says.

“One of the saddest things is that the parents are involved, or close relatives are involved as well, to exploit their children.”

Maeato says human trafficking is rife in the logging, mining, and fishing sectors, with established networks connecting young girls with workers.

“There's a dialogue between the camp manager or a relative working in the logging industry who might organise someone from the community or parents to organise their young girl going to work as a housekeeper and then later get married.”

In the Solomon Islands, marriage is legal with parental consent from the age of 15, and one in five girls are married before they reach 18.

Customary marriage is still practised, and Maeato says this traditional rite, meant to form ties between families, is being exploited.

“Foreigners use that as a legal ground to marry a young girl at the age of 15 or 16.”

Maeato says bride prices can range from SI$2000-$100,000 (NZ$412-$20,600), and payment can be made in various forms.

“They can arrange for things like providing a motor engine, or buying copper roofing for a house, or providing goods for the family.”

Providing a safe haven

In some provinces, Hope Trust uses a traditional adoption system called Wantok Care for young girls who have been abused. But Maeato says there are challenges in finding suitable accommodation.

“One of the aunties is able to take care of one of the girls that's been sexually abused by her father … but taking another person into your home is an extra burden.”

HOPE Trust is set up in communities that are vulnerable to human trafficking due to poverty. Photo/Supplied

When a girl requires medical treatment, rental accommodation may be used, but Maeato says the costs can be SI$650 (NZ$134) per night. He dreams of establishing a permanent safe house.

“With children, especially for girls, you have to create something that is more safe, less threatening, more friendly, where the child is able to be herself and is secure for her.”

Safety and dignity

With outreach programmes in Guadalcanal and Honiara, HOPE Trust aims to change community behaviours over human trafficking and to raise awareness and protective measures.

“We also provide basic counselling for first responders in the community, gatekeepers we call them, so when a child exposes something like that, they're able to deal with it and then share it with us.”

HOPE Trust and Ola Fou work with communities who have high rates of poverty and are near mining and logging camps. Photo/Supplied

The organisation advocates for law changes to raise the marriage age to 18 and works with the government’s crime prevention unit and police. But Maeato says that pursuing justice can be difficult.

“Even when we report the case to the police, the community or the parents might already have done something like a traditional exchange of goods for the community, or the perpetrator, they might have some kind of arrangement already [in place].”

Pathways to a better future

Meanwhile, a youth and community development programme is taking a different approach to supporting vulnerable women through agriculture, financial literacy, and leadership training.

Elisha Paza Pitanoe, the country director of Ola Fou, aims to increase women's inclusion in society and leadership roles.

Children play in a village where HOPE Trust and Ola Fou help to protect women and young girls from being exploited. Photo/Supplied

“We are now in the 21st century, yet a lot of women are still affected by exploitation. Our programme targets how we can be able to create those opportunities for women to have access to the services that they need that will develop their confidence and develop their capacity so they can also be able to speak up.”

Ola Fou works with HOPE Trust to help young women acquire skills that may provide alternative income sources instead of resorting to commercial sexual exploitation.

“They identify the survivor and then the Ola Fou team steps in to support that survivor with some life skills, activities, and some funding to help that survivor establish something for herself to be able to become self-reliant and support herself going forward.”

Ola Fou provides tools and training for better agricultural produce that can be sold for a higher price. Photo/Supplied

Local change fuelled by NZ donations

Ola Fou and HOPE Trust are part of the SAFE programme, a partnership with the charity organisation Tearfund that aims to protect communities from exploitation through farming and enterprise.

Maeato is thankful for the funding and says that while much of their work is done behind the scenes, it is crucial to change community behaviours.

“One day, we would love to see our girls become better citizens in the country. I would love to see perpetrators behind bars. Maybe the perpetrators will hate me for what I've just said, but I would love justice to be served for these girls.”

Pitanoe says continuous advocacy for gender equality and equity is important for the future of women in the Solomon Islands.

“We are beginning to see hope for women over the years. We are beginning to see the change happening in our communities.”