Samoa banned the use of corporal punishment in 2013.

But a proposed amendment to the Education Bill 2009, section 23, would allow teachers in schools to use reasonable force to discipline children.

Ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma, who heads Samoa's Human Rights Institution, says he doesn't understand the motivation for change.

Last week, in its capacity as the country's national human rights institution, his office made a submission to the Parliamentary Social Committee.

The submission proposed deferring a vote on the amendment until parliament and the government have had the opportunity to consider an inquiry report and its recommendations due for release this month.

Justice Vui Clarence Nelson says he's at a loss as to why the Ministry of Education is pushing the bill.

"Nobody seems to understand the reason behind the pursuit of this amendment to the Education Act," Nelson says.

"This law is a retrograde step. We're going backwards."

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has downplayed concerns that the use of "reasonable force" in schools is a step backwards for Samoa.

In July, during his weekly programme with the media, the Prime Minister said the amendment was in response to requests from the public.

"At times when fights break out between schools, the students don't even care about the presence of police officers at the scenes, they continue on fighting and they sometimes fight the officers.

"And after those fights I've had people visit me in my office, asking the Government to bring back corporal punishment to teach the students lessons - and this is love," he said.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• sobserver.ws
• sobserver.ws
• sobserver.ws
• Image: ncpolicywatch.com

The name was chosen by a representative workshop group of the many young people who go there.

The process used to choose the name is in keeping with the studio's philosophy.

The studio is designed for youth to create their own projects and to share amongst themselves.

Their facebook page says the aim of Le Tuiga Samoa is "about bringing together the power of Samoan culture, community, and technology to develop skills and enterprise for the 21st Century.

"Many church and social youth groups in Samoa are led by ‘youths' who are in their 30s, so many young people grow up never having had the chance to learn, make mistakes and practise leadership and group skills on their own," said Marj Moore in the Samoa Observer.

"That young people should make these decisions themselves was not something our youth was used to" said Moore.

"Samoan culture also leans more towards a 'listen to your elders and do as they say' system rather than shared opinions which are respected."

But leadership and decision-making is what is being fostered and encouraged at Le Tuiga Samoa, and in fact celebrated.

The three million tala [US$1.3 million] four-year project targeted at over 5,300 young Samoans between the ages of 8 and 25 both in and out of school was officially launched in March.

The facility boasts a film studio, music studio, adobe suite programmes, animation programmes and space for community engagement.

The High Tech Youth Network Studio (HTYN) is a non-profit charitable organisation registered in New Zealand, the United States and Hawaii.

Each country gets to choose a name for its studio.

It is funded by grants from the New Zealand Government as well as contributions from private and corporate donors.

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Facebook
• Talamua
• Pacific Island Report
• Image: Facebook

"This cannot happen without the leadership of government and other local stakeholders, including community and religious leaders, alongside women and men at all levels of society."

These are some of the conclusions contained in a report from a United Nation Human Rights delegation that has just completed a visit to Samoa.

The delegation concluded that while huge strides had been made in tackling the issue of gender-based violence, much more still needs to be done to tackle deeply rooted gender discrimination.

Kamala Chandrakirana, who currently heads the UN Working Group on discrimination against women, says Samoa is only at the beginning of a long journey.

Samoan authorities have acknowledged the problem since a 2007 study on domestic violence found 46 percent of women surveyed had experienced some form of partner abuse and 60 percent been physically abused by someone other than a partner.

Data from the Domestic Violence Unit of the Ministry of Police shows between the years of 2007-2015 there was an increase of reported domestic violence of female victims between the ages of 17 and 33.

The increase refers only to cases reported to Police headquarters in Apia. It does not include cases reported to police outposts.

At the end of last year Samoa's prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi set up a commission to inquire into domestic violence

Its chairman, Samoa's ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma, said during the consultations he came to realise that traditional institutions, such as the matai system, which is influential in regulating behaviour in villages, should be engaged.

"But then of course we have to really look at these institutions to see that they can truly provide solutions and that they're not a significant part of the problem," he said.

The UN delegation:

• Found many Samoans had been profoundly shocked by a recent government report revealing the scale of gender-based violence.
• Concluded addressing the root causes of violence against women would require a major shift in cultural perceptions about women and their place in society.

The delegation urged new policies including:

• A state-sponsored social welfare system
• Full support for women and girls who had suffered sexual or physical violence
• Better funding for the civil society groups that are already making an immense contribution despite limited resources.

The delegation carried out its fact-finding visit from 8 to 18 August.

It had been invited by the Samoan government to look into the current situation of women's human rights in the country.

Source

• UNOG
• Pacific Scoop
• RNZ
• RNZ
• RNZ
• Voice of America
• Samoa Observer
• Image: UNDP

Robyn Lesatale a University of Auckland Pacific studies student surveyed more than 400 Auckland Samoans about the practice.

A fa'alavelave is roughly defined as "anything which interferes with normal life and calls for special activity" such as funerals, weddings, giving of Matai titles, births, special birthdays, and opening buildings.

Lesatale says many had to get loans out to cover the cost of giving and this is exacerbated by the financial pressures on many ethnic Samoans living in Auckland.

She says most took a lot of pride in fa'alavelave but she thinks it may die out if it is not brought back to its true cultural meaning.

"We should really look at fa'alavelave through a Samoan perspective and should emphasis it's about love about family."

Some respondents described the practice as being used as a kind of social boasting and as being out of control.

Ms Lesatale says people in the community felt under pressure to give more than they could afford.

Most of those surveyed were full Samoans who lived in New Zealand and were first generation.

They were mainly from South Auckland and between the ages of 19 to 35.

"It's part of our culture, part of our identity the love and respect we get from our parents, it's an obligation that encourages a sense of community and reciprocity," says Leatale.

But she says the practice can be a huge financial burden with some extended families giving up to $10,000 to a grieving family.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• Image: pacific.scoop.co.nz