Solomon Islands
Cluster Munition Ban Policy
Five-Year Review: Non-signatory the Solomon Islands has not made any statements elaborating its view on joining the convention, but government representatives have expressed support for its objectives. The Solomon Islands attended the convention’s Meetings of States Parties in 2010 and 2011. It is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.
Policy
The Solomon Islands has not yet acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
The status of accession is not known. Previously, in 2010 and 2011, officials expressed support for the convention and indicated the government was actively working to join it.[1]
The Solomon Islands did not participate in the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
The Solomon Islands attended the convention’s Meetings of States Parties in 2010 and 2011 as an observer, but did not make any statements. It has not participated in any meetings of the convention since 2011, but attended a regional workshop on explosive remnants of war (ERW) in the Pacific held in Brisbane, Australia in June 2013.[2]
The Solomon Islands has voted in favor of UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions condemning the use of cluster munitions in Syria, including Resolution 69/189 on 18 December 2014, which expressed “outrage” at the continued use.[3]
The Solomon Islands is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty.
Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling
The Solomon Islands is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions. In September 2011, a government representative informed the Monitor that the Solomon Islands are not affected by cluster munition remnants.[4]
[1] The Solomon Islands representative to the First Meeting of States Parties informed CMC representatives that he would recommend that accession to the convention be added to the government’s list of treaty priorities. CMC meeting with George Hoa’au, Assistant Secretary for the UN and Treaties, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 9 November 2010. At a side meeting held during the Second Meeting of States Parties in Beirut, Lebanon in September 2011, the Solomon Islands representative said that an internal consultation process was underway to consider accession to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Aotearoa New Zealand Cluster Munition Coalition web story, “Pacific action on cluster munitions,” 22 September 2011.
[2] Email from Lorel Thompson, National Coordinator, Safe Ground, 30 March 2014.
[3] “Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution A/RES/69/189, 18 December 2014. The Solomon Islands voted in support of a similar resolution on 18 December 2013.
[4] Monitor meeting with Miriam Lidimani, Legal Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Solomon Islands, in Beirut, 14 September 2011.