FAMILY VIOLENCE IN SAMOA 87% CHILDREN HARSH VERBAL VIOLENCE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE 86% experienced threats of violence in family setting had been subjected to kicking, punching or other assaults SEXUAL VIOLENCE & INCEST 9.5% CHILD PROSTITUTION & PORNOGRAPHY female respondents reporting to have been raped by a family member in their lifetime. The Inquiry also noted the occurrence of other types of sexual abuse of children, that of child prostitution (where the victims are both boys and girls), and child pornography. VIOLENCE BORNE OUT OF FRUSTRATION One recurring theme throughout the Inquiry was the observation that physical and harsh verbal discipline / violence often occurred not because the child had done something wrong as a way for the parents to take their frustrations out. “Have you heard about tourists coming here for sex with young boys? Yes it has occurred and it is happening. There have been cases reported and we also see it.” ~ Police outpost officer, Inquiry public hearings VIOLENCE TOWARDS NON-BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN There were stories of adopted children being treated worse by their adopted or step families than biological children. E toso isi (non-biological/ adopted children), ae afisi isi (biological children). ADULTS nofotane violence The treatment of nofotane women as inferiors is a breach of the human rights and undermines principles of the Fa’asamoa that of mutual respect (feāvaa’i) and mutual protection (fepuipuia’i). INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV) IPV constitutes a large amount of the violence within the family in Samoa: 86% INTER-FAMILY VIOLENCE women subject to kicking, punching, slapping, causing bodily harm using a hard object (rock, stick, tree trunk, hose, etc.) 24% respondents subject 87% women to yelling and harsh words experienced choking women respondents experienced threats of physical violence or bodily harm 87% Violence is inter-related. The prevalence of male on male violence e.g. brother on brother (or between family members themselves), which is often less talked about was highlighted on several occasions to the Inquiry VIOLENCE TOWARDS OTHER GROUPS Family violence can and does happen to anyone. There are certain groups who are at risk and to whom attention should be given to understand and to address their vulnerability. “It saddens me to see young boys who are confused and unsure of their identity being subjected to physical violence by the hands of their own family in the name of making them tough so they do not turn into fa’afafine.” ~ Anonymous fa'afafine participant SOGISC Persons Elderly Fa'afafine Persons with Disabilities Source: National Public Inquiry into Family Violence Consultations 2017 Komesina o Sulufaiga