Outgoing British High Commissioner, Victoria Treadell, says that an attitude change at societal level is needed to reduce domestic violence in Samoa.
Speaking at a press conference in Apia, the said this change begins with real public awareness.
“People are increasingly saying enough, this must stop, it must not be part of our society,” she said.
“I think there are a lot of people who are absolutely committed to reducing this problem.
“There is a genuine issue here to address. It requires a partnership and real support from government, from civil society, I think the church also has an important role.
“But I think if I can speak quite honestly and objectively, there needs to be better coordination and there needs to be responsibility taken and there also needs to be a change in attitude within the society.”
She said during her time in Samoa she had a meeting with U.N. Women, where she was told of a recent survey done.
“There was a survey recently done asking school aged children whether it is all right for the mother or the women in the household to be physically abused,” she said.
“And 50 per cent of the boys thought it was ok, that’s what’s happens in the family.
“But the shocking statistic was that 58 per cent of the girls thought that that was acceptable. “The girl child and the young women and the women have to be the first to say enough this is not right and it is not acceptable.”
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She said strong women have to head this and provide confidence to those who may feel weaker about the issue.
“And that is in all societies,” she said. “People have to begin to stand up and they have to be public about their condemnation of this problem in society.
“Government has to do it women must to do it, the church must do it community leaders - the matais in the villages. “In an international community, this is something that is universally unacceptable.”
She said in this area the British Government was leading a global campaign on the prevention of sexual violence in conflict.
“In many conflict zones rape is used as a weapon of war,” she said.
“It is as much a criminal act as genocide and the perpetrators must equally be brought to book.
“So we are hosting a major summit in London in June, bringing together 140 countries who have signed up to this initiative including New Zealand.
They “will be represented at a very senior government level to work out a plan on how to address this.
“Now of course the sexual violence that takes place here in Samoa is not in a conflict zone, as such.
“But we take the value of that agenda and look at how we can roll out our work here and identify the people with who we can work as well as our dialogue with government.
“So I don’t think you ever eradicate it from society completely, we can definitely reduce it and change has to come first in terms of attitude.”
She said advocacy of this issue is something the British High Commission could assist Samoa with.
“What Britain can do is say this is an issue that we care about and we want to encourage progress,” said Her Excellency.
“Advocacy, that is something that we can do.
“It is an issue that I will be talking to the Prime Minister about, I know he himself is concerned about it.
“But from everyone I have met in Samoa, everyone recognises the challenge and the need to do something better.
“But I do think it begins with real public awareness and people increasingly saying enough, this must stop, it must not be part of our society.”
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