Apia, Samoa – Stakeholders of the Law and Justice Sector came together today to chart the way forward in
tackling violence under the service delivery model known as REACH or the Rights, Empowerment and
Cohesion Project.
The REACH Project aims to strengthen people’s access to justice and essential services regardless of
where they live.
The Law and Justice Sector, led by the Ministry of Justice & Courts Administration (MJCA), has joined forces
with the European Union and United Nations Spotlight Initiative, via the component under the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), to roll out the second phase of the REACH Project, after it was
successfully piloted in 10 villages in March 2019.
The multi-stakeholder planning workshop today aimed to reinforce REACH’s aim to coordinate, plan and
implement initiatives to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, including domestic
violence and intimate partner violence, by using national and sub-national systems and institutions available.
It also highlights the significance of prioritizing victims and people who face difficulty in accessing
government services in the provision of these services.
“We must be bold and ambitious in our approach to tackling violence in all its forms but especially gender-
based violence against the most vulnerable members of our communities: women and children,” said UNDP
Resident Representative, Jorn Sorensen.
“The Spotlight Initiative is already producing great results here and abroad. We must build on best practices
from the region and globally in order for our efforts to be effective and have an impact on those most
affected. We need to duplicate what works. We, as decision-makers, policy reformists and game-changers
must continue to assert the central role of gender equality and social inclusion to chart the rationale and
actions necessary to achieve sustainable development while integrating efforts to prevent and stop all forms
of violence.”
REACH Phase 2 aims to revolutionize and advance opportunities to access information and influence
behavioral change by implementing a collective approach to ending domestic and intimate partner violence,
and violence against women and girls. It also aims to be informed by critical issues of violence and
inequalities that Samoa is experiencing and within the COVID-19 context
“Violence is a growing disaster in Samoa. It destroys our people physically, emotionally and spiritually. We
need to do all we can to eliminate this from our society and we are grateful to our stakeholders and partners

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
PRESS RELEASE

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who are working with us to tackle violence in all its forms in our country,” said the Chief Executive Officer of
the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, and Chairperson of the Samoa Law & Justice Sector
Steering Committee, Moliei Simi Vaai.
The 2018 National Inquiry into Family Violence in Samoa, conducted by the National Human Rights
The institution (NHRI), found that six out of 10 women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence
in their lifetime, and nine out of 10 children have experienced some form of physical, harsh verbal and sexual
violence in their lifetime.
REACH Phase 2 is scheduled to be rolled out later this year.
-ENDS-
For media queries, please contact:
Laufaleaina Lesa, UNDP Multi-Country Office, Samoa|Tel. +685 23670|E: laufaleaina.lesa@undp.org
www.ws.undp.org @UNDP in Samoa, Cook Islands, Tokelau & Niue @undpsamoa
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