Apia, Samoa (25 November 2020) – Samoa joins countries around the world today
in acknowledging the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Campaign. As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic,
there has been an alarming increase in the already existing pandemic of
violence against women and girls globally. Samoa continues to do its part to
prevent violence within homes through various initiatives and efforts by
Government and partners.
One of these initiatives includes the Family Safety Committee pilot project
emanating from Recommendation 20 of the National Inquiry into Family
Violence 2018 by the Ombudsman Office as the National Human Rights
Institution.
The pilot project sees six villages in Samoa, with endorsement from their Village
Fono (Village Councils), establish their Village Family Safety Committees to
assist Village Fono and churches in their villages with ongoing family violence
prevention initiatives. Lalovi – Mulifanua, Lotopue and Vaiee are amongst the
six villages from Upolu committed to eliminating violence against women and
girls through their three-year workplans launched today which consists of key
activities they intend to carry out within their own villages.
The Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma, in his remarks acknowledged the
commitment of different organizations in Samoa doing their part, “Government
cannot be solely responsible for this issue. There is not one best solution for
this matter and today we acknowledge the efforts of our villages here who,
through their established Committees, will contribute to a change of mindsets
and behaviors that strengthen peace within homes”.
He further stressed the aim of setting up the committees was to be the “eyes
and ears” of the Fono, to report to the village council or police any family
violence issues.
They are to be equipped to act as an informational network to ensure that key
messages by service providers and Government Ministries relating to family
safety and impacts of family violence are continuously being echoed and
shared with every family in villages. They would also work alongside partners in
conducting their own family violence prevention awareness and be an informal
referral pathway that can provide the first assistance within their respective
villages to individuals and families requiring family violence services.

Various activities in the village work plans include reviewing of their bylaws to
strengthen family violence village laws and penalties, regular visits to families
particularly vulnerable families, village cultural days to remind youths of
principles and values of fa’asamoa [Samoan way of life] that empathize on the
importance of women and relationships, etc.
NHRI acknowledges the continuous commitment and support of various
partners who have contributed in one way or another throughout this project
including the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls
(Pacific Partnership), funded primarily by the European Union, and the
Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and UN Women, and is led by the
Pacific Community (SPC), UN Women and the Pacific Islands Forum
Secretariat. It also acknowledges the Sisters for Change and the EU-UN
Spotlight Initiative for its ongoing support.
Background information on Pacific Partnership
The Pacific region has some of the highest rates of violence against women
recorded in the world – twice the global average with an estimated two in every
three Pacific women impacted by gender-based violence. Along with high rates
of violence – a grave human rights violation – women and girls in the Pacific
region experience constant and continual inequalities including low levels of
participation in decision-making, limited economic opportunities, and restricted
access to critical services and rights.
The Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific
Partnership) brings together governments, civil society organisations,
communities and other partners to promote gender equality, prevent violence
against women and girls (VAWG), and increase access to quality response
services for survivors.
The EUR26.0 million programme is funded primarily by the European Union
(EUR12.7m) with targeted support from the Governments of Australia
(EUR9.5m) and New Zealand (EUR3.2m) and cost-sharing with UN Women
(EUR0.6m), and is led by the Pacific Community (SPC), UN Women and the
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.