It is estimated that anywhere between 50-90% of domestic and family violence incidents are not reported to the police - the following statistics are therefore a mere snapshot of the true situation in Samoa today. Conviction Court Reported to Police Professional support sought Actual Prevalence of Domestic Violence figure Known Prevalence (Survey) Actual Level of Violence In 2014-2015, the Office carried out the first ever comprehensive review of human rights in Samoa. As per the Ombudsman Act, an outcome report- the State of Human Rights Report 2015 (the “SHRR 2015”) was subsequently produced and submitted to Parliament for scrutiny in June 2015. One of the 2 areas highlighted in the SHRR 2015 was violence against women, girls and children. 3 Data collected by the Office for the purposes of the SHRR 2015 showed that a total of 39% of participants in the Office Survey 2014-2015 reported seeing abuse against women and girls in their village in the previous year. Over one-third (34%) of Survey participants witnessed 4 domestic abuse against a child in the past year within the family or village. Disturbingly, although not asked directly, a number of School Survey 2014-2015 participants indicated that sexual abuse and incest are taking place. This was corroborated by the Ministry of Police and Court records indicating a relatively high number of offences of incest and sexual offences 5 affecting children. Also, since the establishment of the SVSG House of Hope, SVSG has housed over 100 children who have been victims of incest. The SHRR 2015 also confirmed data collected by the Samoa Family Health and Safety Study in 2007 indicating that ‘almost half of women surveyed (46.6%) aged 15-49 reported experiencing physical and/or emotional 6 and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner. Although these acts of sexual abuse and incest are forbidden within Samoan laws and culture, this is an issue that persists and the Office is concerned that it is becoming increasingly common. In 2005, the Committee on CEDAW in its concluding comments during Samoa’s first CEDAW review recommended for Samoa to put in place without delay a comprehensive strategy to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women, including domestic violence. Such a strategy should include measures, including legislation, to prevent violence against women, 7 provide protection, support and rehabilitation services to victims, and punish the offenders. In 2006, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in its concluding observations noted that while Samoa has undertaken activities to prevent and combat child abuse, the Committee was 2 3 Total number sampled-2515. Age group 10-88. State of Human Rights Report 2015. See Ibid above at pg 14. 4 See Ibid above at pg 20. 5 See Ibid above at pg 23. 6 7 See Ibid above at pg 12. http://www.mwcsd.gov.ws/images/stories/PUBLICATIONS%20WEBSITE/Newupdate%202013/CEDAW%20&%20CRC%20Concluding%20Comments/CEDAW%20Concluding%20comme nts.pdf 4 National Public Inquiry Background Paper| Office of the Ombudsman