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•
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represent issues and concerns of the village women’s
committee to the Village Fono at its meetings rather than
indirectly through the village representative.
Continue female leadership programmes and monitor impact.
Facilitate constructive participation of women, families in low income
brackets and others in church decision-making.
Parliament should expeditiously give proper and urgent attention to
recommendations relating to effective participation of persons with
disabilities contained in the 2015 and 2016 State of Human Rights
Reports provided by the Office.
Village Fono, Parliament and Churches to give proper and adequate
consideration to the direct inclusion (or views, at a minimum) of
SOGISC persons, children, youth and elders.
14. Prevention Framework
14.1 Education and Awareness
14.1.1 Education
INQUIRY FINDING 22: The absence of sexual education and healthy relationships
in the school curriculum and the guidance provided to teachers around gender
and sexual violence reinforces gender stereotypes and increases vulnerability of
children to sexual violence.
The Inquiry found that a general absence of sexual education and healthy relationships education in
schools is a contributing factor to family violence in Samoa. Indeed it has been globally recognized that
the potential effects of education and life skills for young children include:26
Reductions in physical and sexual IPV victimization and perpetration;
Empowers boys and girls to recognize and protect themselves against family violence;
Reduction in aggressive and violent behaviours;
Reduction in drug and excessive alcohol use;
Reduction in bullying behaviours.
The importance of teaching children how to approach life in a non-violent manner and provide them with
the tools to identify and address violent behaviour towards them cannot therefore be understated. The
26
World Health Organisation. (2016). INSPIRE: Seven Strategies for Ending Violence Against Children. Document 48 Inquiry
anthology.
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