is referred to as such throughout the Report for ease of reference for those wishing to access them
online. A full list of all Inquiry documents can be found at Appendix F.
3.6
The Right to Reply
Following the completion of the initial draft, the Report was distributed to Government ministries and
other stakeholders. A set time period was allocated to respond to those sections to clarify any factual
mistakes or provide the Inquiry with additional evidence on which to make its findings. Where it was
deemed appropriate the responses were incorporated into the final draft.
3.7
Timeframe
The Inquiry was officially launched by the Honourable Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi on
10 December 2016, and the Final Report was submitted to Parliament in June 2018.
4. Structure of the Report
4.1 Part II: The Nature of Family Violence
The introductory sections in Part II provide a review of the nature, common causes and widely held
myths of family violence in order to give the reader an understanding of the wider context. The
Samoan context is then considered with an overview of the family violence situation currently, what
the law says and the services and systems that are currently in place. Part II concludes with a look at
what the Fa’asamoa, Faith and human rights have to say on family violence and the relationship
between them. The purpose of Part II is to give the reader a general understanding and a baseline
against which conclusions can be drawn.
4.2 Part III: Family Violence in Samoa
Part III addresses (i) and (iii) of the Inquiry ToR. It examines family violence in detail, as told by the
victims, survivors and perpetrators themselves. It comprises a series of case studies and experiences
organized by type of violence starting with early childhood. An analysis is provided at the end of most
case studies to start developing an understanding of the common factors and causes in violent
situations. Part III concludes with an analysis of the impact of family violence, drawing together all of
the experiences, the impact they have, the cost to the Samoan economy, and to what degree violence
has become normal.
4.3 Part IV: Existing Approaches, Causes and Triggers
Part IV addresses (ii) and (iv) of the Inquiry ToR. It details the evidence heard and seen by the
Commissioners throughout the Inquiry on existing attitudes, beliefs and practices, the current
prevention and protection frameworks, and the role they all play in relation to family violence. The
Commissioners use the case studies from Part III, additional witness statements, the consultations
and research to come to a series of findings relating to root causes and triggers that go on to form the
basis for Part V.