Family Protection Act to be gazetted in April 2016

The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) Commissioner, Frank Prendergast has
announced that the Family Protection Advisory Council (FPAC) has agreed to a 1st April
2016 target date for gazettal of the Family Protection Act 2014.

The FPAC, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth and
Children’s Affairs, Ms Ethel Sigamanu made the decision at a recent meeting in Honiara.
The FPAC advises the Minister of Women, Youth and Children’s Affairs on the
implementation of the Act passed by National Parliament in 2014.

“Indeed this is a milestone in the implementation of this legislation which was passed by
the parliament on 27th August 2014 and will soon be rolled out throughout the country with
the support of all stake holders including the RSIPF,” said RSIPF Commissioner
Prendergast, who is also a member of the FPAC.

The timely announcement of the date for the gazetting this Act will go along well with the
current training of officers of the RSIPF on the Family Protection Act. This included a
Training of Trainers held in Honiara 15th – 19th February for 15 officers from Honiara and
other provincial police stations. The trained officers are now expected to deliver the
training to other officers at their stations starting this week.

“There will be teething problems experienced at the start of the implementation of the Act
but the RSIPF would like to call on members of communities throughout Solomon Islands
to assist the Force and other stakeholders as the country implements this important piece
of legislation which I believe will go a long way towards reducing the unfortunate high rate
of family violence incidences in our country,” said Police Commissioner Prendergast.