A first of its kind Talanoa Toolkit for village-based advocates against family violence was launched in Samoa on Friday by the Office of the Ombudsman in collaboration with the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office.

The collaboration between the two Office of the Ombudsman/NHRI and the United Nations Multi-Country Office is through the Pacific  Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership).

The Pacific Partnership is funded primarily by the European Union, and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and UN Women, and is led by the Pacific Community (SPC), UN Women and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

The Associate Minister of Prime Minister Office and Cabinet and Office of the Ombudsman, Tofā Manuleleua Paletasala Tovale, delivered the keynote speech and acknowledged the role of village-based advocates against family violence in promoting violence free families and communities.

“The Talanoa Toolkit is an essential resource for advocates against family violence in communities whether village representatives, committees, organizations, church ministers or youth and can be adapted and used in any community awareness on family violence prevention in districts, villages, churches, schools and families," said the Associate Minister.

"Discussions of family violence can be a sensitive issue but having this resource in hand is a tool to help facilitate meaningful discussions and continue to promote key messages by service providers, the Government and partners in the elimination of violence against women and children in Samoa."

The Ombudsman Luamanuvao Katalaina Sapolu acknowledged the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls for their support and hopes that the Toolkit will be a valuable resource for all village-based advocates against family violence in Samoa. 

The Acting Officer in Charge of UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office, Abigail Erikson congratulated NHRI on the launch of the Talanoa Toolkit, acknowledging its importance to Samoan communities in discouraging deeply rooted mindsets and practices the continue to perpetuate family violence in homes and communities, thus preventing further harm to women and girls and their families.

“While the Talanoa Toolkit is informed by global standards on prevention and survivor-centered support, it is written in Samoan and English, and contextualized to reflect Samoan cultural practice. We commend the effort undertaken to ensure this level of accessibility," said the UN official.

The launch for the resources was followed by an introductory session into the resource with selected village-based advocates to raise their awareness about the toolkit and how they can be effectively used for their own purpose. 

The Talanoa Toolkit was distributed to all village representatives and organizations in attendance.