The Solomon Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty on
4 December 1997 and ratified on 26 January 1999. It is not known if any
national implementation legislation or measures are in place, as the Solomon
Islands has not yet submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report,
originally due by 27 December 1999. In May 2002, a representative from the
Solomon Islands participated in the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional Standing
Committee meetings in Geneva for the first time. He stated that the government
was aware of its Article 7 reporting obligation, but internal difficulties had
contributed to the delay.[1] He
also confirmed that the Solomon Islands has never produced, transferred, or
stockpiled antipersonnel mines. On 22 November 2002, the Solomon Islands voted
in support of pro-ban UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74.
In June 2003, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs told Landmine Monitor,
“The information given in the previous Landmine Monitor Report remains
relevant and reflective of the present situation in Solomon Islands. World War
II ordnance remains a problem not only on Guadalcanal, but other parts of the
country as well.”[2]
[1] Oral remarks by Jeremiah Manele,
Counsellor, Embassy of the Solomon Islands to the UN in New York, to the
Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 31
May 2002 (Notes taken by Landmine
Monitor/HRW). [2] Letter from Collin
Beck, Pacific Branch for Permanent Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs, 3
June 2003.