KEY POINTS:
Mapusaga O Aiga a womens organisation in Samoa is urging the Samoan Government to make a "strong stand" for the protection of women and children and the small number of men who suffer physical beatings in the home.
The organisation says that by failing to act or assist in the reduction of domestic violence "only serves to make physical beatings acceptable".
They say that the recent "tragic" case involving Luki Galu and the death of his wife and unborn child highlights the problem of domestic violence in Samoa.
MOA says too many women in Samoa are continuing to "put up with beatings and physical abuse, suffering silently in their shame".
The organisation says that too often people do not offer advice or support to the women in need.
Since 1993, Mapusaga O Aiga has advocated against domestic violence in Samoa and recently called for a sexual harassment policy to be implemented in all government organisations and work places.
In a press release the NGO asked: "How many deaths will we put up with in Samoa before concrete steps are taken by government - acting jointly with NGOs - to reduce the numbers of manslaughter and murders arising from violence in the home?"
MOA says too many people continue to "support physical and verbal abuse as discipline, on the basis that they themselves received the same treatment when they were young".
"There is no excuse for knowing something as an adult is wrong and should be stopped."
In 1992, the Samoan government ratified the UN Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and in 1994 the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child (CRC).
By signing these documents, governments commit themselves to protecting children's and women's rights and are then held accountable for this commitment before the international community.
Obligations under the conventions extend as far as providing counselling services and shelter to victims of domestic violence.
While MOA says legislation for restraining orders is currently being looked into, they say the government must also consider making domestic violence itself an offence.
The organisation's tag line "Break the silence, Stop the violence," hopes to encourage people to come forward and report violence in the home.
"We urge members of the public to provide your own loved ones with timely and gentle advice against beating their wives, children and husband's. Such advice may certainly save someone's life, for no human being deserves to be beaten by another, least of all, by a so-called 'loved one'."
"We as concerned citizens should take responsibility by ensuring that we change our own attitudes to such treatment of children so that abuse against children is eliminated."
Mapusaga O Aiga or "Family Haven" provide confidential help and advice and can be contacted on 20799.
- NEWSLINE SAMOA
