attitudes of male superiority, and monitor long-term impact. INQUIRY FINDING 17: The Fa’asamoa is widely used and misused to reinforce the patriarchal society, which is at the heart of all family violence. INQUIRY FINDING 18: The vā tapuia, and Fa’asamoa generally, is no longer respected as it once was, removing a critical prevention mechanism against family violence contained within the Fa’asamoa. INQUIRY FINDING 19: Communication in Samoa has broken down and is no longer a two-way process, increasing the risk and prevalence of family violence. RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATION 9: Address misconceptions around the Fa’asamoa which further gender inequality and contribute to family violence and identify and implement ways in which it can prevent and protect against family violence. ACTION OUTCOME IMPLEMENTATION/ RESPONSIBLE AGENCY • Public awareness and school education on how the Fa’asamoa is used to create gender inequality and how this leads to family violence. Political, traditional and religious leaders also speaking out in this regard. • Public and school education on effective communication and conflict resolution, drawing on cultural values. • Development of Samoan language (vocabulary) around all forms of family violence through consultations and involving all demographics of Samoan society. • Public awareness and school education on the vā tapuia and the importance of those relationships in the prevention and protection against family violence. • MWCSD • MESC • National University of Samoa • NHRI Samoa • All other relevant stakeholders TIMEFRAME • Urgent attention INQUIRY FINDING 20: The Bible is wrongly used to justify violence against women and children and perpetuates the patriarchal society within which violence breeds.