Apia Samoa | The four walls of the Paradisus Conference Hall in Cancun, Mexico shook at
the sound of the Samoan celebratory singing as the delegation was called on stage to
receive the “Leaving No One Behind” prestigious award of the Global Spotlight Initiative.
Through singing and dancing, both in the Pacific and on the global stage, Samoan women
express their love of life, their love for the family and the values keeping the community
together. And they sang tonight for the world to hear that Samoa leads the way in ending
violence against women and children everywhere.
It’s Sunday, 18 September early evening in Samoa, Saturday 17 September late at night in
Cancun, but nobody is sleeping as the great news come out- the Spotlight Initiative
programme in Samoa receives Global Spotlight recognition for its inclusive dialogue
approach around a dramatic reality of increasing numbers of victims of domestic and
intimate partner violence.
“In many ways, the award gives voice to the painful silence surrounding victims of domestic
violence, women and children who are denied the basic right to a dignified life” says UN
Resident Coordinator in Samoa, Simona Marinescu.
Gratitude and tears of joy overwhelmed the Samoan delegation led by the Chief Executive
Officer of the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development, Dr. Mema Motusaga,
Co-Chair of the CSO National Reference Group Fagalima Tuatagaloa, Gabrielle Apelu of
Apelu Sports representing the Regional CSO NRG and Youth Representative Gutu Faasau,
as they gracefully danced their way over to the stage to receive the award.
Finally, Samoa and our efforts towards ending violence against women have been
recognized, Civil Society National Reference Group Co-Chair Fagalima Tuatagaloa said
when receiving the award.
The Spotlight Initiative in Samoa is a nationally owned programme funded by the European
Union through a dedicated partnership with the United Nations to end violence against
women and girls. “The programme continues to achieve results because the Spotlight
Initiative Team listened and designed interventions to suit the context of our communities,
their level of knowledge and their capacities to deliver”, Fagalima added.
Dr Mema Motusaga, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Women, Community and
Social Development added that “the Award recognizes the collective effort and partnerships
within the Spotlight programme built on relevant policies, grounded on the concept of family,
enhanced by cultural and religious values and a load made lighter with everyone committed
to ending violence against women and girls as their main goal.”
UN Resident Coordinator Simona Marinescu, cheering from Samoa on social media was
highly emotional stating that “the award is the highest recognition of Samoa’s work under the
Spotlight Initiative. We have come a long way, yet more is needed for women and children
everywhere to live without fear.”
The five programmes nominated for the “Leave No One Behind” Award included Samoa,
Liberia, Tajkistan, Honduras and Zimbabwe.

The Award recognizes the Spotlight Initiative programme team’s commitment to the Leave
No One Behind principle of the 2030 Agenda. The programme is assisted in Samoa by
UNDP, UNESCO, UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA and the UN Resident Coordinator Office
working closely with the Civil Society National Reference Group, a mechanism of 10 CSO
representatives aiming to ensure that, in ending domestic and intimate partner violence in
Samoa, dignity of victims is protected including through high-quality services while root
causes of violence are being identified and addressed.