The Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.) will join the 16 Days of Activism global movement against violence which gets underway on Friday.

Using the approach of “leaving no one behind in advancing progress made on E.V.A.W.G. [ending violence against women and girls] in Samoa", the non-government organisation said in a media release that it is joining the global campaign with a positive mindset.

"It is an acknowledgment of the changes being made thus far from small ones to bigger changes that we have made together as a community, to eliminate violence against women and girls," the S.V.S.G. said.

In Samoa the S.V.S.G. has worked with victims of violence who have become survivors and speak up as ambassadors of ending the violence campaign. 

The perpetrators of violence program with men, women and youth referred from the Family Court have impacted the lives of the perpetrators and their families, highlighting a change in mentality, attitude and behavior towards violence.

At the Campus of Hope, the children survivors of violence will start the global campaign by commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Friday. This is through a flag raising ceremony on campus led by the children, signifying the celebration of freedom, hope and dreams represented by the country’s independence.

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, the S.V.S.G. will mobilise more than 100 Government leaders, church leaders, village leaders, youth leaders, school principals, college boys and untitled men (aumaga) to celebrate progress being made.

The coming together of men and boys to front up the ending violence against women and girls campaign in Samoa is therefore a change worth celebrating.

 The S.V.S.G. President Siliniu Lina Chang called for unity in the fight against violence targeting women and girls.

“We will be able to end violence against women and girls in Samoa," she said.