Samoa

Launch of the first State of Human Rights Report in Samoa

The launch event was presided by Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa.

Gender stereotyping disadvantages women in Samoa

The report highlights the abuse suffered at the hands of a woman's husband, or her mother-in-law.

It says breaking stereotypes around the roles and responsibilities for women is necessary to achieve gender equality.

Samoa's ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma, says the report is long overdue, and causes people to look at how human rights are being exercised, as well as examine the role of Fa'a Samoa or Samoan culture.

Sacked Samoa police chief sues AG

The ombudsmen who chaired the inquiry are Maiava Iulai Toma, Gatoloai Tili Afamasaga, and Su'a Tanielu are defendants in case.

Australian woman gets light fine for Samoa fraud

Toplagi Ah Yen Lelua, who regularly visits family in Samoa, had admitted the charge for which she could have been fined up to US$150,000 dollars and jailed for six years.

Ms Lelua had shipped personal effects in a container but had evaded duty by failing to declare that two cars were included.

 

Netball Samoa to focus on youth

The Samoans achieved their aim of a top ten finish, improving on their World Ranking of 13th.

Marcia Hardcastle says there is no Pacific Series scheduled until 2017 so her focus will be on the next generation.

Samoa’s National Human Rights Institution launches its first State of Human Rights Report

The report dispels misconceptions that currently exist in Samoa about the nature and purpose of human rights and discusses the relationship between Fa’asamoa and the international human rights system, including the relationship between individual and community rights.

As the Ombudsman stated, “This report is very much for Samoa by Samoa … the weaving together of Fa’asamoa and human rights principles will make a stronger and more harmonious society.”

American Samoa to set up registry of purse seiners based locally

This regulatory system can assist the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should Tri Marine International’s petition for fishing exemption be approved, says Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr Claire Tuia Poumele.

Samoa upbeat after top ten finish at Netball World Cup

The Samoans were beaten by Trinidad and Tobago in the playoff for ninth place yesterday, having stunned Pacific rivals Fiji a day earlier.

Marcia Hardcastle says that result meant a lot against a team that had got the better of them in the Oceania Series in January and at last month's Pacific Games.

Samoan Police seize 30 weapons and 600 marijuana plants

Police Commissioner Egon Lincoln Keil led the operation which also arrested 4 people who are now under police custody.

Faleatiu is well known to police as an officer was shot dead there during a raid in the 1970s and also injured police officers and damaged police vehicles and a villager shot dead during an early morning raid several years ago.

According to Commissioner Keil, the area where they found the illegal drugs was high up in the mountains and the officers involved had to walk a long way to the farm.

Samoan Opposition: Village service rules would discriminate against women

Now the government is poised to push through an amendment that would require all would-be MPs to fulfil a service requirement to their village before they'd be eligible to stand.

Opposition leader Palusalue Fa'apo says the move is in line with chiefly traditions, but the timing of it, with only a year to go before the next election, will discriminate against women and undermine government policy of raising the number of female MPs to at least one in ten.