The Franciscans International an International Non-Governmental Organization with ECOSOC Status, and Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN) in collaboration with Dominicans for Justice and Peace, have participated in UPR 4th Cycle, jointly appealing to the Solomon Islands Government to take urgent action, on the impacts of Logging and mining on the Human rights of local communities in the Solomon Islands.
This joint appeal urges the Government for stronger actions to adopt adequate legal framework on Logging and Mining, noting the current legal framework on both the current forest and Timber utilization Act 1969 and Mines and Minerals resources Act of 1990 are outdated, this legal frameworks have failed to adequately regulate development project negotiations and calling for adoptions of adequate legal framework, that upholds the principle of Prior and informed consent (FPIC) with direct negotiations between company, the land owners and local communities on the fundamentals and standards of Human Rights (UDHR).
Remedies to ensure businesses engaged in logging and mining operations respect human rights, including by instituting mandatory human rights due diligence, equitable benefit sharing, and ensure that adverse human rights impacts, including abuses related to the right to food and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, are prevented, and that effective remedies are available when abuses occur.
