Romantic relationship in Solomon Islands

Courtship, engagement and intimate relationships in Solomon Islands are mainly private, church-based, customary or community-based arrangements. No direct state dating registry or civil-partnership equivalent was identified in the available national sources. Dating or cohabitation alone therefore does not create the same formal position as a qualifying marriage. The Family Protection Act nevertheless uses a broad domestic relationship concept that includes a de facto spouse, a parent of a child, engagement, courtship, a customary relationship and an actual or perceived intimate or sexual relationship of any duration. Domestic violence includes physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse. Psychological abuse can include possessiveness, jealousy, harassment, stalking and intimidation. Economic abuse can include controlling money, financial support or property. Consent to sexual activity must be free and voluntary. Force, fear, detention, sleep, unconsciousness, alcohol or drug incapacity, inability to understand, abuse of authority or trust, threats involving shame and false representations can prevent valid consent. A person can withdraw consent during the act, and the absence of physical resistance does not establish consent. Rape can occur within marriage or a marriage-like relationship. Sexual intercourse or an indecent act with a child under 15 is criminal, and consent is not a defence. The penalties are especially severe for a child under 13 or where a position of trust exists; intercourse with a child aged 13 to under 15 can carry up to 15 years of imprisonment. Sexual intercourse with a person aged 15 to under 18 in a position of trust can also carry up to 15 years. The Penal Code creates additional legal risk for same-sex sexual activity through the offences of buggery and gross indecency, and no same-sex marriage pathway was identified in the reviewed sources. The Marriage Act provides formal ways to marry through custom, a minister of religion or a District Registrar. Parties must generally be at least 15. A person under 18 generally needs written consent from a parent or guardian, unless an exception applies for a widow or widower or a judge or magistrate gives consent after an inquiry. Church notice generally runs for at least three weeks and no more than three months. Notice filed with a District Registrar normally permits the ceremony after 21 days and before three months have passed. Two witnesses are required. A minister's certificate must reach the District Registrar within one month or at the first available opportunity. A customary marriage can be registered voluntarily with the District Registrar; registration gives access to divorce rights under the Act in the same way as an Act marriage. The listed District Registrar fee for filing notice is $2, and a certified marriage certificate or register extract is also listed at $2. Church, customary and ceremony costs are not fixed in the available official material and should be confirmed locally. A police safety notice can be issued where there are reasonable grounds and court access is urgent or impracticable. It lasts 21 days and can be extended once for up to another 21 days. An affected person or representative can apply for a protection order, including orally or by telephone, email or fax when access is difficult. An interim order can be made without the other party present and outside ordinary business hours. A final order can last up to five years and may prohibit violence, firearm possession, contact or approach, or entry to a residence, and may address property return, child contact or temporary maintenance. The court applies a balance-of-probabilities threshold for a final order. Breaching an order or committing domestic violence can lead to a fine of 30,000 penalty units or up to three years' imprisonment. Customary compensation is not a defence, although compensation can be ordered. SafeNet provides survivor-centred referrals, including counselling, medical and legal support, shelter, child protection and police assistance. Emergency police contacts are 999 and 23999; SafeNet is 132 and operates 24 hours. Other listed services include Seif Ples at 24677, Family Support Centre at 20619 or 26999, Christian Care Centre at 36319, MHMS Social Welfare at 20569, the GBV Unit at 20686, the Integrated Mental Health Clinic at 20690, National Referral Hospital at 23601, the RSIPF Family Violence Unit at 20023, the Sexual Assault Unit at 21226, SIPPA at 23954 or 22991, and the Public Solicitor's Office at 28406 or 22348. A registered counsellor must have ministerial registration, approved training and at least two years of domestic-violence counselling experience. The official sources reviewed did not establish a nationally standardized relationship-counselling service outside violence-focused support. A breakup of an unmarried dating or cohabiting relationship has no identified formal separation process. Protection orders can still be available where the relationship falls within the Family Protection Act. Child and maintenance questions may require the separate family or civil-law processes that apply to the specific case. A qualifying formal or registered customary marriage can be dissolved through the High Court under the Islanders' Divorce Act. Grounds include adultery, desertion for at least three years, cruelty and living apart for at least five years. The listed fees are $25 for the petition, $4 for setting down, $12 for the hearing and $4 for the decree; current registry practice and fees should be verified. An unregistered customary marriage is dissolved or separated according to the applicable custom.