IPV of this nature constitutes a breach of human rights, of the right not to be subject to inhuman treatment, the right to liberty and security of the person. These guarantees are also found in the Constitution of Samoa and because they disproportionately affect women constitute discrimination as well. The Fa’asamoa reaches a similar conclusion to that of human rights in that there should be respect within relationships (fa’aaloalo, vā feāloa’i) based on consensual dialogue (soalaupule). Whichever way you view the case of Hope, and all those who are abused by their partner, it is a clear and widespread violation of the Fa’asamoa, as well as principles of human rights. Case Study 13: Destiny’s* Survival Destiny was 19 when she married her husband, Fetu, and only 6 months later the physical abuse started. On the night of her sister’s wedding she was tired and wanted to go home. This led to an argument, which ended up with Fetu grabbing her by the throat. “Things went on and on like this and every time they did, the violence got worse. The more I pushed back, the more violent he became. It was how he proved his point. He made the choices for me, I did not. No I couldn’t go home early. No I couldn’t go to lunch with my friends. No I couldn’t go to my cousin’s house. There was no freedom in his love for me, if that’s what it was at all. My friend’s brother died and I wanted to go to the funeral. He said no, but I went anyway, even though I knew what was coming. I remember him smashing […] things that meant a lot to me. He controlled what I owned too. That day he raped me. Grabbed me by the hair and dragged me to the bed. He had a pair of scissors in one hand and pointed it at my throat. I was being punished, put in my place.” Destiny continued to be raped within her marriage for years. She went on to have a child and Fetu used to threaten the child with a gun. The violence kept on escalating. One day Destiny took her child and managed to escape and has since found a partner she can trust who does not abuse her. However, both she and her daughter still have to have regular counselling. *Names changed to protect the identities of those involved. Violence is a slippery slope. Often what is initially a little slap quickly becomes a punch, which becomes assault with a weapon, which becomes rape or sexual assault. Any tolerance of violence in society does so in the knowledge that situations such as Destiny’s are inevitable. Destiny’s story also reaffirms how power and control is at the root of IPV, including when it is of a sexual nature. The power can be exercised through sex, through physical violence, verbal abuse or restricting a person’s freedoms by not allowing them to go places or have access to finances.