Download - Who speaks for the land?
Dr Rebecca Monson
Australian National University College of Law
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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