Port Vila, October 30: The School of Law and Social Sciences at the University of the South Pacific (USP) at Emalus Campus was honored to welcome the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs of the Solomon Islands, Mr. Clezy Rore, and his delegation for the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between USP’s School of Law, representing the Pacific Legal Information Institute (PacLII), and the Solomon Islands Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs last week.
The MOA, the first of its kind between PacLII and a Pacific Island nation, aims to increase access to legal information and resources in the Solomon Islands. Dr Morsen Moses, Deputy Head of the School of Law and Social Sciences, emphasized this agreement's notable impact on funding PacLII’s activities within the Solomon Islands. The agreement will facilitate the collection and publication of essential legal materials and promote cooperation in technical expertise, information sharing, and capacity-building initiatives such as study visits and seminars.
“This MOA marks a new chapter in our efforts to improve legal access and education in the Pacific,” stated Dr Morsen. “We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring and hope to establish similar agreements with other Pacific Island countries in the future.”
Minister Rore conveyed gratitude for the warm welcome and acknowledged the importance of this collaboration. “The MOA with PacLII aligns with our government’s priority to forge strategic partnerships with stakeholders that will enhance the core functions of the Ministry of Justice,” he said. The Minister highlighted that the Solomon Islands ranks as the third highest user of PacLII, underscoring the vital role that PacLII plays as the principal source of legal information in the region.
“This partnership is a testament to our commitment to ensuring access to justice and legal resources for all Pacific Islanders,” Minister Rore added. “I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this collaboration in the months ahead.”
The signing ceremony not only strengthens ties between the USP and the Solomon Islands Government but also represents a shared commitment to strengthening legal frameworks and promoting justice throughout the Pacific region.