Maiava Iulai Toma, who also heads Samoa's human rights office, said 8th December will mark the start of a year-long investigation into violence within the family.
Maiava said the inquiry's terms of reference have not fully been fleshed out but a key objective is how to best use existing institutions to combat and educate against violence.
He said it's no secret that violence is a problem.
"It is extensive and may even be fortified by attitudes that are embedded in our traditional communal society.
