 Implementation of village programmes to educate on the nature, causes and consequences of family violence and to reduce risk factors of family violence. 14.4 Church INQUIRY FINDING 31: The church is generally failing in its role to prevent family violence and is reinforcing the patriarchal framework which underpins family violence. The church contributes to the impunity of perpetrators and allows perpetrators within its ministry. “Recommendation: Strengthen the role of the church in promoting family safety. The church is called upon to be more visibly involved in the fight […] by leading family safety programmes and encouraging participation.” Samoa Family Safety Study, 2017, Inquiry document 46 The church was just behind the Village Fonos in who should lead advocacy efforts against family violence according to 64% of respondents in the SFSS 2017. 40 However, as with the Village Fono, the church is currently doing more to propagate views which lead to family violence than play a role in its prevention. There are a number of different ways in which the church could and should reverse their contribution to family violence and become one of the key actors in reducing the prevalence across Samoa. The most critical of which is the involvement of faifeaus in the VFSC as outlined in the chapter immediately above. Diligently undertaking that role would enable them to become a pillar of that institution and play an important role in all of the work of the Committee, both preventive and protective against family violence. 14.4.1 Marriage counseling In addition to this broad new role there are a number of specific actions that should be taken by the church in order to play a substantive role in preventing family violence. The first is to take the lead from the Harvest Centre church who has demonstrated how it is possible to facilitate healthy intimate partner relationships through relatively short marriage counselling programmes.41 By providing similar services to all couples within a parish and re-establishing regular visitations within the village, the church can once again play an effective preventive role. It would also be an opportunity for the church minister to cement a relationship which would enable future visitations and the ability to mediate rising tensions and avoid violent outcomes. 40 Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development. (2017). Samoa Family Safety Study. Document 46 in Inquiry anthology, accessible at www.ombudsman.gov.ws. 41 Whilst the Inquiry commends the Harvest Centre for its marriage course and the impact it has already had on the lives of many it should be a consideration for all future courses run by this church and all other churches to carefully gender and avoid gender stereotypes at all times.