Samoa Ombudsman

The appointment was named following the resignation of Afioga Maiava Iulai Toma, who held the position for the past 27 years.

Luamanuvao started her law career in 1988 as a staff solicitor for the Sapolu and Co. Barristers and Solicitors, becoming a Principal Solicitor from 1992 – 2002.

In 2002 she moved abroad to take up the role of Adviser and Head of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, where she remained for over 15 years.

Samoa Observer reports Maiava, who is also the head of the National Human Rights Institution in Samoa (NHRI), made his views known in a submission to the Parliamentary Select Committee sitting to review the Bills tabled last month.

"NHRI Samoa does not support drastic amendment of the Constitution. It does not consider this necessary to remedy the problems experienced in the past," said the submission.

"NHRI Samoa suggests instead, Parliamentary consideration of legislation under Article 11(2) of the Constitution."

Maiava told delegates children of the Pacific were in a good place compared to many around the world.

However he said it was distressing to have revelations of grave violations against children in the press almost daily.

Maiava spoke candidly about the amount of violence in Samoa.

"We begin through the way we raise our children to invite violence into our homes. We invite it to grow there and to flourish in our lives. The fact of the matter is, we in Samoa are potentially a violent community, just below the surface of our apparent customary tranquility."

The Tonga delegation is led by Chief Executive Officer Linda Folaumoetui who is on a one week attachment supported and funded under the Flexi Funding Program administered by the Office Commonwealth Ombudsman.

“We are very pleased with the opportunity to be able to come over to Samoa to make connections and further our relationship with the Ombudsman Office here and share ways we can learn and strengthen each other’s work and responsibilities to our citizens,” Folaumoetui said.

The complaint against Tialavea Tionisio Hunt and his spouse was made by a sacked prison officer to the prime minister, who asked the ombudsman to look into the claim.

The former officer alleged the associate minister's wife, who holds a senior position in the prison administration, breached the normal process for employing new staff by appointing members of her own family.

He has also accused her of unlawfully sacking him after a tribunal said allegations of poor performance and of him having an affair with a colleague were unproven.

Government figures show reported cases of domestic violence more than tripled from 200 in 2012 to 723 in 2015.

Maiava Iulai Toma said violence may be fortified by attitudes embedded in traditional Samoan culture.

He said the Fono o Matai were very powerful Fa'a Samoa institutions which could help address violence in the home.

"Village councils can be very good and in fact take action against things that happen in their villages," said Maiava. "But generally speaking, when it comes to domestic violence, action is minimal."