British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Naoero, Paul Turner, used a keynote speech at a Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) seminar in Honiara to call for greater participation of women in the country's democratic processes, according to a UK government report published on 16 September 2026. The event formed part of activities that week marking International Day of Democracy on 15 September.

Turner said democracy was only as strong as it was diverse, and that for Solomon Islands' democracy to be vibrant and resilient it needed far more women engaged in its institutions. He drew on remarks by Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare that democracy goes beyond election day to include individual responsibility, and argued the international community sometimes focused too heavily on election-day organisation rather than wider processes such as helping women have a voice.

The WFD workshop, which the report said was running for three days that week, brought together MPs, women's rights and youth groups, parliamentary staff and media. Its stated aim was to identify blockages to women's political participation and set out measures to address them, including new coalitions inside and outside Parliament. WFD has worked in Solomon Islands since 2022, focusing on the National Parliament's committee system and budget oversight, and said it would increasingly engage groups outside Parliament.