Samoa is hosting the first Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network (P.I.L.O.N) Sexual Gender Based Violence Working Group meeting this week, starting today.

Director of Public Prosecutions of Samoa, Precious Chang, is the Chairperson of the P.I.L.O.N. 

The meeting will involve a workshop focusing on practical skills required by law enforcement agencies in dealing with family violence and sexual based violence. 

Law officers from around the Pacific will be attending this meeting including police officers from Samoa as well as other Pacific Nations. 

Issues that prosecutors face in prosecuting these offences will be discussed and ideas shared in how to deal with these issues. 

The faculty includes Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren, Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, Chief Legal Drafter for the Attorney General Office of Samoa, Loretta Teueli, and Chief Legal Litigator for the Attorney General Office of Samoa, Muriel Lui. 

Guest speakers are Aumua Ming Leung Wai (previous Attorney General of Samoa), Lemalu Herman Retzlaff (current Attorney General), the Commissioner of Police, Fuiava Egon Keil, Justice Mata Tuatagaloa, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Papalii John Taimalelagi.

The theme of the meeting is “Through fundamentals and common sense, we can tackle the most complex legal issues.” 

It is hoped that with such prestigious legal minds involved in this training that legal officers and law enforcement officers from around the Pacific including Samoa are inspired to have the courage to change and improve what we need to change and improve.