DV VICTIMS 2007 - 2015 1465 1500 1000 731 500 218 50 36 297 Female = 2505 226 Male = 747 145 33 51 0 1 -16 yrs 17 - 33 yrs 34 - 50 yrs 51 - 66 yrs 67+ yrs There is concern and international pressure to address domestic violence especially with regards to women, girls and children. This was evident in Samoa’s second UPR review earlier this year when the UN Human Rights Council recommended to Samoa to continue to take active steps to implement measures aimed at combating and preventing domestic violence. 12 The media has been flooded with reports of court cases on domestic violence particularly with physical and sexual abuse of women and sexual abuse or incest involving young girls and children. At the same time there is strong concern from the public on the severity and increase of domestic violence. 13 The concerning increase and widespread pattern of domestic violence in Samoa has prompted the Ombudsman Office to make Family Violence the focus of its first national inquiry. 3. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND DOMESTIC LAW The human rights treaties that Samoa has ratified that are relevant to the situation include CEDAW, CRC and ICCPR. By accepting CEDAW, State parties are committed to condemn and take all appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. Article 5 obliges State parties to take all appropriate measures to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women. The CRC provides that children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, physically or mentally. State Parties are to ensure that children are properly cared for and protect them from violence and abuse (Article 19). In addition to Samoa’s international obligations, Samoa also has in place constitutional provisions and domestic laws that provide direct and indirect protection against family violence which may include: 12 13 Draft Report of the Working Group on the UPR, A/HRC/WG.6/25/L.3, 9 May 2016 http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/06_08_2016/local/9652/Father--slammed--for-sex-betrayal.htm; http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/280464/samoan-brothers-jailed-for-incest; http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/16_08_2016/local/10040/Sexual-crimes-continue-to-rise.htm 6 National Public Inquiry Background Paper| Office of the Ombudsman