provide greater protection for victims of violence, and is based on the cultural values upon which Samoa was founded. 13.1.1 Sasa (smacking) and harsh verbal discipline/ violence INQUIRY FINDING 2: Physical, harsh verbal discipline/violence and sexual violence towards children has reached epidemic levels. • 9 out of 10 children in Samoa experience violence in their lifetime • Physical discipline/violence is often extreme in nature, going way beyond what is ‘reasonable punishment’ under Samoan law • Sexual abuse of children and incest levels have reached ‘epidemic’ proportions in Samoa INQUIRY FINDING 5: Family violence has a wide range of long-term impacts on the physical and mental well-being of its victims and those who witness it. They include: • Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicide and aggressive behaviours; • Greater use of alcohol and drugs, increased sexual promiscuity and multiple sexual partners; • Direct injury and even death; • Maternal health problems, including unwanted pregnancies, miscarriages and pregnancy complications; • Low self-esteem leading to health and behavioural problems; • Inter-generational violence; • Reduced future productivity and undermining national economic development. INQUIRY FINDING 10: Children subjected to violence or those who witness violence growing up are at a substantially increased risk of becoming a perpetrator or victim of family violence later in life. INQUIRY FINDING 11: Violence towards children worsens because parents falsely believe it aided their own development as children or through employing a variety of excuses for misbehaviour among the youth and fail to take responsibility for their own role.