Legal Framework
The constitution provides for the freedom to practice, change, and proselytize for the individual and community. It also provides for the freedom to establish noncompulsory religious instruction. These provisions may be restricted by laws “reasonably required” to protect the rights of others or for defense or public safety, order, morality, or health.
All religious groups must register with the government. Religious groups are required to apply in writing to the Registrar of Companies for a certificate of registration. To register, the group must create an online account on the appropriate government website and the application fee of 1,250 Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) ($157) is waived. Part of the application process requires a description of the group, a list of board members, and a constitution. The registrar issues a certificate when satisfied that the nature, extent, objectives, and circumstances of the applicant are noncommercial.
The public school curriculum includes an hour of daily religious instruction, the content of which is agreed by the member churches of the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA), an ecumenical nongovernmental organization comprising the county’s five largest churches. Parents are able to have their children excused from religious education. Government-subsidized church schools are required to align their nonreligious curricula with governmental criteria. Non-Christian religious instruction is provided in the schools upon request.
The country is not a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Government Practices
There were no reports of religious groups being denied registration; one new group was registered during the year.
The government interacted with religious groups through the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministry characterized its role as maintaining a balance between constitutionally protected rights of religious freedom, free speech, and free expression and maintaining public order. The ministry also granted a small amount of funding to churches to carry out social programs. During the year, five churches requested and were granted government funding for such programs. The maximum amount for these grants was SBD 15,000 ($1,890). Some churches also received funding from local members of parliament through their constituent development funds.
Religious groups operated several schools and health services. The government subsidized most of the schools administered by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church of Melanesia, the United Church, the South Seas Evangelical Church, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Subsidies were allocated proportionally based on the number of students at the schools and the size of the health centers. There were no reports of discrimination among groups in receiving these subsidies.
Government oaths of office customarily are taken on the Bible, but this was not a compulsory practice.