Solomon Islands takes bold step to raise marriage age to 18

The Solomon Islands government is set to raise the legal marriage age from 15 to 18, aligning it with the voting age and international child protection standards.

A joint report by international charities, Save the Children, ChildFund, and World Vision, reveals that one in five girls in the Solomon Islands is married before the age of 18. In rural areas, the statistic increases to one in four, with six per cent of girls married before they turn 15.

Ellen Kahui, project manager for the Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini coalition, says this is a shocking reality.

“Girls who marry before the age of 18 are more likely to face domestic violence and are less likely to stay in school… It’s essentially a case of a child raising a child,” she tells William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

“Even with parental consent, marriage at such a young age can hinder a child's physical, emotional and educational development and deprive them also of their fundamental rights.”

During a recent Parliament session, Peter Shanel Agovaka, the Solomon Islands’ Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, announced the proposed changes to the Islanders’ Marriage and Divorce Act 1945.

Watch Ellen Kahui’s full interview below.

“We currently allow marriage at 15 years old. We want to change that to 18, which is also the legal voting age. We are making this change so that it is compatible with other legal matters.”

Speaking from Honiara, Kahui describes the reform as “a crucial step” in protecting children and highlights how raising the legal marriage age protects children from forced early unions.

“Once married, girls are often unable to complete their schooling, cutting off opportunities for advancement.

Photo/UNICEF/Naftalin

“Their health is also at risk and studies have shown that adolescent pregnancies are both common among married girls and a leading cause of death for girls aged between 15 to 19 years worldwide.”

Only four Pacific Island countries, Kiribati, Fiji, Nauru, and the Marshall Islands, currently set the marriage age at 18 years old.

Kahui says it is time to align outdated laws with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and warns that early marriage “severely undermines” girls’ rights to education, health, and future prospects.

The mission ahead

Jacqui Southey, Advocacy and Research Director at Save the Children, says there is strong public support for raising the marriage age.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, Southey warns that marrying too young can lead to serious problems.

Community leaders, including HOPE Trust and representatives from the police and Tearfund NZ gather to mark the signing of the Koleasi Community Bylaw. Photo/NZ High Commission in Honiara

“Data shows increased risk of domestic violence, the inability to finish school, poor earning prospects later in life, and greater risk of exploitation.”

If the reform passes, Kahui says that enforcement will be a challenge due to the country’s geography, limited resources, and funding constraints. She stresses the importance of community outreach and collaboration with government ministries, faith leaders, and local chiefs to ensure the change is effective.

In June, the Koleasi Community Bylaw was implemented with the assistance of Hope Trust and Tearfund, explicitly banning marriage before the age of 18 in the local village. Offenders face fines and traditional intervention, with penalties for arranging forced marriages or harbouring someone against their will.

Kahui’s closing message is clear: “Every delay in amending section 10 of the Islanders Marriage Act puts more children at risk of getting married at an early age. “Let’s all come together and end child marriage. Our children are our future leaders, let’s protect them because justice delayed is justice denied.”

The date for the proposed change is yet to be announced.