“Penalties imposed by the Village Fono provide further substance to women’s fears of financial hardship. For example, a fine imposed on the husband would in most cases fall on the extended family whose resources are ultimately shared anyway. Banishment is also possible which would similarly entail loss of financial support for the family.” Samoan people’s understanding of primary prevention of violence against women’, Inquiry document 91 INQUIRY FINDING 44: The practice of fa’alavelave has lost its original meaning, become competitive and puts undue financial stress on families which can act as a trigger for family violence, increasing its prevalence nationally. Financial penalties and banishments imposed by Village Fonos are also having the same effect. In a similar manner, church contributions are becoming an increasingly burdensome obligation in the lives of many and this has also taken on a competitive nature, which in some churches is driven by the practice of folafola. Like fa’alavelave, church obligations can be crippling and lead to extreme financial pressures which can act as a trigger for family violence. Often those who are vulnerable to money problems are excluded from the decision making process around amounts which are to be given. “Families who normally make all the decisions in the congregation are the ones who are better off […] they normally set the standard for church commitments, donations, etc.” Inquiry consultations participant, Inquiry document 58 Some faifeau see the collection of money as the main goal and are blinded by this to the suffering and family violence it can trigger. “I think faifeaus are part of the problem. In the ideal world they would be the solution but they have to take the blame for what is happening. They ask for too much in contributions and add to the stresses, which leads to family violence. They ask, knowing that families cannot provide that much so why are they asking?” Mata’afa Keni Lesa, Editor Samoa Observer, Inquiry public hearings Financial pressures are a trigger in the same way that alcohol is and by addressing the issue, less family violence will be triggered, bringing the overall prevalence down. It has been found that IPV is 1.3 times more likely among families who experience food insecurity compared to families who enjoy food