Four children aged from 13 – 15 have suffered physical and sexual abuse in the homes and at school, as reported to the Samoa Victim Support Group in a period of one week. 

Three of the four children are now under court Protection Orders and as minors, SVSG has to apply for court protection on their behalf.  

SVSG has become their voice.

For the physically abused children, severe injuries were sustained.  For the sisters who were sexually abused from within their homes, the injuries run deeper, and are a cause of great concern.  Three of the children are now under SVSG’s shelter care including the two sisters.  Counseling is provided while the case is with the Police.

In all four cases, it was not the children who reported the matter to S.V.S.G. simply because they were afraid, but those outside of the family who showed that they cared.

There was a principal who chose not to turn a blind eye to visible signs of abuse on one of his students; a Church Minister who saw injuries on a child being abused by not just one, but three teachers from a College; and an S.V.S.G. village representative was suspicious of the change he noticed in two young girls, once so vibrant and full of life, yet now withdrawn and lost. 

Strangers became the voice for these abused children when they referred the cases to S.V.S.G. for assistance.

As the voice of the voiceless, S.V.S.G. has to heard against all the noise and pressure to hide what happened to these children as it refers all the cases to Police and further to the Court when applying for Protection Orders. 

And S.V.S.G. would not have been able to become the voice of the abused children without the members of community who made that initial call. 

Thank you for being responsible citizens.

SVSG President therefore appeals to members of the public to work together with us in protecting our children.  “Please, we are just a phone call away.  Our 24-hour Help Line is free.  Call 800-7874 or our office phone on 25392.”  Siliniu Lina Chang