Violence against women

Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said Samoa has zero tolerance on violence against women and girls and that such practices are against our culture.

In a statement made virtually at the Pacific Prevention Summit in Fiji, Fiame said the current global statistic is 1 in 3 but the Pacific is 2 in 3, which makes the Pacific one of the regions with the highest levels of violence against women and girls in the world.

“It is important that both service provision and prevention efforts are maintained as they are considered imperatives to end violence against women and girls.”

The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development received the assistance as part of UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund Pacific programme, which is providing £2m in funding support across the Pacific in 2021-22.

Acting CEO for Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development in Samoa, Vitoria Crichton Lalomilo said, MWCSD is pleased to partner with the UK government through the Ending Violence in the Village (EVV) project, to increase awareness and promote discussion of social and cultural norms on ending GBV in Samoa.

The Pacific Community (SPC) is convening the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 7th Meeting of the Pacific Ministers for Women: "Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future - Empowering All Women in the Blue Pacific Continent."

This event will bring together decision-makers, development partners, research institutions and civil society organisations.

The project is funded by the Spotlight Initiative to help eliminate violence.

In taking ownership of the project focus, SVSG had taken the global #WithHer Campaign and localised it, modifying its title to #SamoaWithHer.

The 12-month project is fronted by the SVSG Juniors, the youth sub-group of SVSG, as part of the UNESCO Spotlight Initiative.

The program will see YOUTH, putting the Spotlight on RESPECT – Faaaloalo – to help eliminate violence against women and girls.

Zita Martel was driving in Samoa when she saw a man assaulting his wife in another car.

She said the man told her it was none of her business, as the woman was his wife, while another adult, who was accompanied by children, witnessed the assault and just laughed.

Ms Martel said she called the police and got the woman to safety but was so concerned she posted about what she saw on social media.

In an unprecedented move, Maiava Iulai Toma, who is also the country's Ombudsman, has released a statement two weeks into the enquiry, condemning this school of thought amongst his fellow Samoan males.

He said that to suggest the way women dress and behave somehow fuels a primitive urge within men that is beyond their control, is victim blaming of the highest order and should not be tolerated.

Tuiasau Uelese Petaia, who plays Maea, has urged matai to speak for "sisters" against the big problem of domestic violence.

RNZ reports Mr Petaia, himself a matai, is hoping for change.

He said some Samoan men depended too much on their fists to rule their families at the detriment of wives, daughters, sons and extended family.

Mr Petaia addressed the crowds that attended this week's gala premiere of the movie in Wellington, an audience that included Samoa's Head of State Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi and dignitaries of the Samoan community.

Five cases have been filed so far this year, putting Majuro on track to set a record for domestic violence protection orders.

The latest cases include the first-ever jailing of a man for violating a court order to stay 200 feet away from his victim.

Last year there were 12 domestic violence protection orders requested and in 2015, 10 were filed.

In 2014, there were none.

The steady rise reflects the High Court streamlining its process for filing these "temporary protection order" requests so the individual seeking help does not need a lawyer for the process.

RNZ reports Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi has appointed three commissioners including politician Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Lei'ataua, Auckland University of Technology's Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop and the National University of Samoa's Leasiolagi Malama Meleisea.

Lei'ataua is a former speaker of the house and cabinet minister who represents the A'ana Alofi No. 2 constituency.

It has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with the Australian National Rugby League and the Fiji National Rugby League to help them run programmes that use the sport's platform to prevent violence.

The NRL's Voice against Violence program will be implemented in Fiji and the Pacific over coming months, with players, officials and administrators receiving training on gender, violence against women and human rights.