Dr Rebecca Monson

Australian National University College of Law

rebecca.monson@anu.edu.au

Who speaks for the land?

Commercialisation and the transformation of customary land tenure in Solomon Islands

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Solomon Islands’ legal system

• Influence of kastom (custom), Christianity and the state– Immense variation in kastom due to cultural diversity– Variation in Christianity, particularly across

denominations

• 85% of land is customary land, held according to “current customary usage”

• Remaining land is freehold land or public land

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Kakabona

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Where are women active in decision-making and dispute-resolution?

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Recommendations

• Improved legal literacy• Improved information dissemination

(ie. of acquisition hearings, distribution of royalties)

• Improved knowledge of kastom (custom)

• Separate hearings for a range of groups (ie chiefs, ‘other men’, women…)

• Encourage (mandate?) women trustees (particularly in matrilineal systems)

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Recommendations

• Improved legal literacy• Improved information dissemination

(ie. of acquisition hearings, distribution of royalties)

• Improved knowledge of kastom (custom)

• Separate hearings for a range of groups (ie chiefs, ‘other men’, women…)

• Encourage (mandate?) women trustees (particularly in matrilineal systems)

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