The country on Monday joined the global community to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence with a senior UN official making a direct plea to his "Samoan brothers".

The official launching of the global event in Samoa was held at the Tooa Salamasina Hall, Sogi with Samoan government leaders joining donor partners, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society and non-government representatives as well as United Nations staff. 

In her keynote address on Monday, the Minister for Women, Community and Social Development, Mulipola Anaroa Molioo told the guests that the region had one of the world's highest rates of GBV with a national inquiry in Samoa in 2018 by the National Human Rights Institution/Ombudsman confirming the effects of violence on women and children as well as families.

"The last national inquiry into family violence in Samoa in 2018 reaffirmed the need for intervention to address the alarming rates of family violence in Samoa," said the Minister. "On children, 87 per cent of those covered in the inquiry experienced threats of violence in a family setting; 86 per cent had been subjected to kicking, punching and other assaults; 9.5 per cent of females reported having been raped by a family member in their lifetime. 

"For adults - 86 per cent of women were subject to kicking, punching, slapping, or causing bodily harm using a hard object (rock, stick, tree trunk, hose etc); 87 per cent of women respondents were subject to yelling and harsh words; 24 per cent experienced choking; 87 per cent women experienced threats of physical violence or bodily hard."

In a direct appeal to the menfolk in Samoa, the UN Resident Coordinator for Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, Themba Kalua told his "Samoan brothers" that violence against women and girls "is not a sign of strength but a demonstration of weakness".

"As a man, I want to briefly speak to my fellow men, my Samoan brothers. Let us be unambiguous in our stand - violence against women and girls is never acceptable. It is not a sign of strength, but a demonstration of weakness," said Mr. Kalua. "We must hold ourselves accountable for our actions and, equally important, hold each other accountable. 

"When you witness an incident of gender-based violence, do not remain a silent bystander. Speak up, intervene, and support survivors. Real strength lies in fostering environments of respect and equality."

Minister Mulipola used the occasion to remind the local population that Samoans' Christian and cultural ethos teaches respect and "the willingness to listen, understand and find ways to discuss and address". 

"Whilst the work will continue beyond the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women, Girls and Children in Samoa, it is a reminder that as Samoans our Christian and cultural values teach respect and the willingness to listen, understand and find ways to discuss and address the many economic and social issues faced by our people in homes, churches, villages and communities on a daily basis is a step in the right direction." 

The official global campaign against GBV started on Saturday 25 November and will end on Sunday 10 December 2023.