Office of the Ombudsman, Samoa‘s National Human Rights Institution
Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child – September 2015
120
Recommendation 13: The Samoan Government, in consultation with
the NHRI, should work with the village fono, relevant authorities and
relevant NGOs to increase public awareness of the Family Safety Act
and how to engage in its legal proceedings.
Recommendation 14: The NHRI should work with the Samoan
Government to investigate and develop child-friendly reporting avenues
for child abuse, sexual assault and incest.
Recommendation 15: The Samoan Government, in consultation with
the NHRI, should establish a system for the regular collection of
statistical data on domestic violence, sexual abuse and incest
disaggregated by sex, age, region (urban/rural), and relationship
between victim and perpetrator to be reported on a quarterly basis to
the NHRI.
Recommendation 16: The Samoan Government should provide
dedicated funds and adequate assistance to all NGOs working on the
protection of families, especially in rural areas.
Recommendation 17: That the Samoan Government review the Family
Safety Act 2013 for the inclusion of protections for persons who report
incidence of violence, including sexual violence.
Recommendation 18: That the Samoan Government enforce the ban
on corporal punishment in schools, in line with the Education Act 2009
and the Convention
Recommendation 19: That the Samoan Government ensure
enforcement of the Education Act 2009 and reduce the rates of schoolaged children working as street vendors.
Recommendation 20: That the Samoan Government fully implement all
the recommendations in the NHRI‘s, Detention Centre Inspections
Report, June 2015.120
Recommendation 21: That the Samoan Government to ensure that a
human rights based approach is incorporated in the design and
development of the new prison facility at Tanumalala.
Recommendation 22: There should be a clear classification and
separation of young prisoners. At no times should children be detained
with adults. The Samoan Government should ensure that the Samoan
Prisons and Corrections Service immediately apply the classification
process of prisoners as established under the Prisons and Corrections
Regulation 2014.
NHRI, Detention Centre Inspections Report, June 2015, found at www.ombudsman.gov.ws
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