“One of the greatest disappointments when seeking assistance from agencies, namely police and health professionals, was the indifferent and ignorant attitudes and behaviours towards victims. It is extremely difficult for victims to gather the courage to step out and report behaviour in the first place but then they are further reluctant to pursue matters when met with negative attitudes and would rather tolerate the violence than the indifference from the response agencies”. Tuiloma Sina Retzlaff, survivor and family violence advocate, Inquiry public hearings Tuiloma quite succinctly highlights the critical role that the police and health services play in helping victims bring their complaints to the fore, seek justice, gain access to recovery services and in general help to bring family violence out into the open and make perpetrators accountable. If police officers and health care officials display judgmental attitudes towards victims then the victim is forced to retreat, the perpetrator is absolved of responsibility and once again society says family violence is okay and not to be addressed. On top of the attitudes towards victims, the health services suffer the same problem as other protection and prevention institutions in that the perpetrators often are doctors and nurses or are close friends with perpetrators. This means that their response to victims presenting at the hospital is not likely to focus on their patients’ needs but over their own need to protect themselves and stop the victim from reporting the abuse. “I have never sought the medics or police because my husband knew so many doctors, many police. All my husband’s friends are wife beaters. They silently do it and their wives refuse to speak for the same reason.” Anonymous witness submission, Inquiry document 24 INQUIRY FINDING 36: The National Health Services is lacking the resources and knowledge to effectively screen for victims of family violence and there is no allied health system for victims to be referred to. Harmful attitudes and perpetrators among some staff contribute to the lack of reporting and continuation of family violence. 9.2.4 Justice System Within the courts and MJCA, there is the highest concentration of skilled professionals working toward the elimination of family violence within Samoa. Their commitment, passion and dedication demonstrates what is possible when there is the will to effect change. 9.2.4.1 Current system The Family Court, the Family Violence Court, the Youth Court and the Alcohol and Drugs Court are highly significant achievements in themselves and reflect the focus that has been placed on family violence within the legal profession. The Family Court is tasked with dealing with protection orders, divorces,