who speaks for the land?
DESCRIPTION
Commercialisation and the transformation of customary land tenure in Solomon Islands. Dr Rebecca Monson Australian National University College of LawTRANSCRIPT
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)
6