As many as 160 village elders have now committed to being first responders to tackle gender-based violence incidences in their communities.

This is one of the steps taken by the Samoa Victims Support Group (S.V.S.G.) in their work to eradicate violence against women and children.

In a recent statement RELEASED by the Minister of Women Community and Social Development, Leota Laki Sio said discussions with stakeholders found 87 per cent of Samoan women experienced threats of violence, 86 per cent suffered physical violence and about 10 per cent were raped by a family member.

He said the estimated costs of the violence was estimated to be between $98 million and $132 million or about 6 to 7 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.

A total of 160 village leaders, registered as representatives of the S.V.S.G. in village communities, have improved understanding and knowledge on the importance of their roles as first respondents in cases of GBV.

The S.V.S.G. President Siliniu Lina Chang said the last group of trainees comprised elderly high chiefs (both male and female) with the eldest being 82 years of age. 

She said the wealth of traditional knowledge and the respect afforded to them within the village councils of their respective communities are the added value they each brought to the learning table.

The village elders will now be able to process cases from the villages to S.V.S.G. which then go to the Police.

Culminating the theoretical learning was the visit by the village representatives to the Campus of Hope shelter facilities for the abused women and children.  

It was at the Campus that the reality of the village leaders work was put to the test, when they came face to face with the victims of GBV, some of whom, they have assisted with their cases.

It was an emotional networking, as the leaders spoke to the children as parents; feeling their pain and suffering together, as a family.  

“The training was facilitated by S.V.S.G. personnel with special presentations from the Police Domestic Violence Unit,” said Siliniu.

“S.V.S.G. is appreciative of the Samoa Gender Partnership Program, funded by the Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, for the opportunity to upskill the leading S.V.S.G. village representatives to carry out their tautua (service) from the heart.”