‘Gender inequality’ is a characteristic of many societies, “with males on average better positioned in social, economic, and political hierarchies”.4 This is also the case for Samoa as highlighted later in the Report. Gender inequality is strengthen by power and control therefore maintaining the gender hierarchy in Samoa where women occupy a subordinate position and leads to the prevalence of GBV. “Gender based violence against women is one of the fundamental social, political and economic means by which the subordinate position of women with respect to men and their stereotyped roles are perpetuated.” CEDAW Committee, General Recommendation 35, Inquiry Document 72 Part IV of the Report will examine to what extent power and control, gender roles and other causes and triggers all contribute to family violence in Samoa. 5.6 The Cycle of Violence Consideration of both the Power and Control Wheel and Cycle of Violence Wheel will be of assistance when later analysing case studies and common trends from Samoa. The cycle of violence wheel explains how and why the behavior of a person who commits family violence may change so dramatically over time. It also provides an understanding as to why the person affected by family violence continues to face a violent relationship. 5 The cycle goes through a number of stages as depicted in the graphic below. Variations of the cycle occur because not every person’s experience violence is the same. Nevertheless, it is important for Samoa to develop a national understanding of the cycle of violence in order to break it and to ensure that support services (such as the police, health workers, pastors, village councils, the Judiciary etc.) respond appropriately. 4 Refer to UNDP. Humanity divided: Confronting inequality in Developing Countries. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Poverty%20Reduction/Inclusive%20development/Humanity%20Divided/Hu manityDivided_Full-Report.pdf. Accessed 27 May 2018. 5 MICHA Projects Inc. “The Cycle of Violence.” Retrieved from http://www.bdvs.org.au/resource_files/bdvas/IR_5_Cycle-ofviolence-factsheet.pdf. Accessed 13 May 2018.