A child was discovered sleeping in front of another family’s home as she made her escape from her abusive home and a teenager was killed after enduring sexual abuse by her relative.

The Samoa Victim Support Group said these were the horrific realities faced by the children of this country. SVSG president Siliniu Lina Chang said there has been an alarming increase in cases of child victims being abused sexually and violently.

“This has prompted SVSG to examine the situation more closely. Reports of parental negligence, the tragic death of a disabled girl, and the search for missing children by concerned parents and families on social media have raised serious concerns,” she said.

“It is particularly disheartening to witness young girls, as young as eight years old, being sheltered as victims of sexual abuse by their relatives. One such case involves a young girl currently under SVSG's care, who was discovered by a family sleeping in front of their home.

“She had been a victim of abuse and felt too frightened to return to her abusive home environment. The public was also devastated to hear about the death of a 13-year-old girl who was sexually abused and killed by her relative at her own home.”  

As a long-standing humanitarian civil society organisation in Samoa for the past two decades, SVSG seeks to understand the public’s perspective and awareness on the growing issue of violence and abuse against children.

SVSG emphasised the crucial role of parents as loving protectors of their children. The rising cases of abuse reveal a troubling carelessness among some parents, highlighting a failure to prioritise their protective responsibilities.

“As SVSG commemorates its 20th anniversary, it is calling for urgent action from the Samoan community to address these critical social issues. Parents and families must confront these uncomfortable truths and ensure the safety of all children from violence and abuse,” said Siliniu.

“Community leaders, including those in villages and churches, should revisit strategies aimed at addressing these issues.

“Utilise the services offered by SVSG.  The free helpline is available 24/7, and the SVSG facilities are always open for counselling and discussions when needed. Let us all work together to ensure a peaceful and safer Samoa.”

Meanwhile, SVSG concluded their poster, poem, and speech competition with a prizegiving conducted on Friday evening. The speech competition was held earlier in the week, while the poem and posters were only announced on Friday at the SVSG conference room.