Introducing Members of the Inquiry

17 September 2017, 12:00AM

The five members of the Commission for the National Public Inquiry into Family Violence have been revealed. They are:

Chairman – Maiava Iulai Toma

Current Post:  Ombudsman

Previous Work: Secretary to Government

CEO Department of Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs & Cabinet, Samoa Permanent 

Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to the USA, High Commission to Canada.

 

Commissioner Meleisea Leasiolagi Professor Malama Meleisea

Current Post: Director, Centre for Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa

A wellknown author and historian in Samoa and the Pacific. He has been a member of a number of recent research, survey projects which looked at participation of women in decision making positions, roles and traditional villages and new urban settlements. In previous work with UNESCO he oversaw and participated in UNESCO sponsored projects against domestic violence. He is a matai and sits in his village council. In his view family based violence (like all other forms of violence) should be eliminated completely from Samoan society through law reform and an intense and on-going national community education programme. 

 

Commissioner Falenaoti Mulitalo Kolotita June Ailuai Oloialii

Current Post: President of Vavau Women’s Committee, Active Village Women Representative, Member of the Law and Justice Sector

Previous Work: She actively plays a role in mobilizing women to participate and be involved in various community advocacy programs to address social issues such a family violence. She has represented Samoa on Study tour to promote healthy living for communities in New Zealand. She also represented the Village Women Representative of Samoa as Samoa’s delegate to the 11th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting in 2016. Falenaoti strongly believes that the centre of every Samoan family plays a great role in nurturing a child, and an invidual’s whole being. It is that centre that we need to focus on to provide solutions to the issue of family violence. 

 

Commissioner Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop

Current Post: Professor of Pacific Studies, Institute of Public Policy AUT, Researcher. A wellknown author in Samoa and the Pacific. She has written and part of a number of research on the subject area such as;

Fairbairn-Dunlop P, K Savali & E Puni (2016)  What makes for a good Samoan family relationship   MSD  New Zealand

Fairbairn-Dunlop, P., & Lievore, D. (2007). Samoa Report: Preventing Domestic Violence (NZAID/ PPDVP). p.69.

Kingi, V., Jordan, J., Moeake-Maxwell, T., & Fairbairn-Dunlop, P. (2009). Pathways from crisis to recovery for adult victims/survivors of sexual violence. Ministry of Women’s Affairs (NZ). [Commissioned by Ministry of Women’s Affairs]. Retrieved from http://www.mwa.govt.nz/news-andpubs/ publications/ pathways-part-one

Fairbairn-Dunlop (2001)  Tetee Atu le sasa ma le upu malosi: hold back your hands and your harsh words  Pacific Health Dialogue Vol 8 No 1, March 2001 (etc.)

 

Commissioner Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua-Lesa

Previous Work: Member of Parliament for Aana Alofi No.2, 

Former Minister of Women Community and Social Development, Speaker of Parliament, Former Minister of Post & Telecommunications and has held prominent positions in various Government Ministries in the past. 

He is the secretary for EFKS Leulumoega since 1989. He is a serving member of his church holding various important positions. He strongly believes that this modern era and changes to our lifestyles plays a huge impact on the social issues we have today. We need to work extra hard for our young people before they fall further away. Everyone needs to do their part to end violence particularly parents and those most influential people such as church ministers and village leaders. 

 

17 September 2017, 12:00AM

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