Samoa’s Prime Minister says the launch of the Sex Offender Register Final Report has come at a fitting time given the prevalence of sexual crimes in the country.
Speaking at the launch in Apia yesterday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the Samoa Law Reform Commission’s Final Report highlighted that between 2009 and 2013, there were 535 crimes of a sexual nature reported to the Ministry of Police.
“An overall trend shows a 20 per cent increase in reported sexual crimes from 2009 to 2013. The most common types of reported sexual crimes include rape, indecent assault and attempted rape.”
Tuilaepa said a key aim of the Commission’s Final Report was to therefore consider if and how a Sex Offenders Register could better protect victims of sexual crimes, including children and reduce sexual crime in Samoa.
He also informed guests of the pending enactment of the Sex Offender Registration Bill 2017.
The Bill is with the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly for tabling before the Parliament.
Tuilaepa said the Samoa Law Reform Commission received a reference from the Attorney General in 2013 to assess if it is appropriate for Samoa to establish a Sex Offenders Register and whether such a register would help to deter sexual re-offending.
Cabinet approved a Discussion Paper and a public consultation was held in October, 2013.
Tuilaepa said the public consultations have assisted the Commission to develop recommendations in its Final Report which was approved by Cabinet and published in May 2015.
The Samoa Law Reform Commission in its Final Report recommended the establishment of a Sex Offenders Register through legislation called the Sex Offender Registration Act.
The purpose of the Sex Offenders Register for Samoa includes:
- Assisting in law enforcement and crime prevention
- Requiring offenders who commit registrable offences to provide personal details to the Ministry of Police and keep them informed of their whereabouts
- Requiring persons who move to Samoa or are deported to Samoa following a sexual conviction overseas, to provide personal details to the Ministry of Police and keep them informed of their whereabouts
- To assist in the monitoring and management of sex offenders in the community and
- To reduce sexual re – offending
The Final Report also recommends for the Sex Offenders Register to be enforced and administered by the Ministry of Police.
Other recommendations like accessibility to the register and the strong importance of keeping accurate and current data on conviction rates, types of offences and re – offending rates, are also provided in the Final Report.
The Prime Minister has encouraged everyone to read the Final Report by the Samoa Law Reform Commission.
Photo by Government of Samoa