violence were matais.79 Given only 15.5% of the total male population are matai,80 this indicates that the rate of perpetrators is more than twice as high among titled men than the national average. The second worrying point is that if the numbers of perpetrators being matai is so high, it is highly unlikely that they will take action to address family violence. This not only applies within the Village Fono setting but also helps to explain Government inaction. “Violence victims (are) reluctant to report cases to the (village) councils and instances were also reported where cases had not received a fair hearing due to the fact that some of these matai sitting there do this and they are not going to judge another matai.” Matai participant, Inquiry document 99 Therefore the problem is, not only are Village Fonos unlikely to proactively prevent family violence, they are also likely to protect perpetrators. This is an alarming situation and reinforces the earlier findings that the standard of matais has declined in recent years. This is of course, a generalization and there are still many matai who embody the true spirit of the Fa’asamoa and are worthy leaders within their villages. There are also matai who are coming to understand the negative consequences of family violence and are bold enough to admit their past failings, and endeavor to make amends like the case of Milo below. Samoa is going to need many people to adopt this approach if family violence is to be defeated. Case Study 24: Chief Milo’s* road to redemption Milo is a matai who is quick to admit he is far from perfect. “I am a person who exercises violence between myself and my wife and children. The decisions I make for my village even has violence as part of them. It’s because of that feeling that you have the control – over my wife, over my family. I feel I have every right to exercise this control.” Milo was able to take part in a number of programmes on family violence and over time came to realise he was not being a good example and the effect of his violent nature on his family and the wider community. “The turning point for me was seeing my role as a role model for the village, the youths and my role in making decisions. I realized I needed to change for people to actually listen to me. I need to practice what I preach.” Since his realisation Milo has gone to great lengths to try to understand and address the root causes of violence in his village. He has sought to limit monetary punishments as they can put families under greater financial stresses and lead to further violence. He also rejects the use of banishment because it is simply moving 79 SPC and UNFPA. (2006). Samoa Family Health and Safety Study 2000. Document 83 in Inquiry anthology, accessible at www.ombudsman.gov.ws. 80 MWCSD. (2015). Women: Matai and Leadership Survey 2015. Retrieved from http://www.mwcsd.gov.ws/images/2017/Documents/DFSD/Women-Matai-and-Leadership-Report-2015---FINAL-FINAL.pdf.