Foreword Samoa’s efforts to protect and promote human rights will be reviewed by governments globally when Samoa participates in its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in November 2015. As the Ombudsman of Samoa and head of Samoa’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) I welcome the opportunity to participate in this important global process. It provides Samoa with the opportunity to be recognised for its achievements in progressing the realisation of human rights nationally and it allows the international community to advise and assist us where further efforts to protect and promote human rights are required. Respecting and protecting the human rights of all Samoans is an integral foundation to ensure sustainable and inclusive development for all. And it is intrinsically linked to the traditional principles of Fa’a Samoa that guide our lives here. Samoa has much to be commended for since the last UPR. In particular, it has established Samoa’s NHRI within my Office and the NHRI presented its first State of Human Rights Report (SHRR) to the Samoan Parliament on 30 June 2015. This is a clear reflection of the importance placed by the Government of Samoa on human rights. Further examples of Samoa’s progress on protecting human rights include signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in September 2014, and enforcing a 10% quota for female parliamentarians in the 2016 election. However, as always there is more work to be done and it is the NHRI’s role to ensure that Samoa protects the human rights of all Samoans at all times. This shadow report seeks to highlight to the HRC and international community the areas the NHRI views as being the most important priorities for Samoa to address in its further efforts to promote and protect the human rights of all Samoans. Maiava Iulai Toma Ombudsman of Samoa and Head of NHRI September 2015