The president of Mapusaga o Aiga, or Family Haven, an NGO working with victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, says moral standards in Samoa appear to be declining.
Maiava Visekota Peteru's comments echo the sentiments of the Prime Minister, who recently encouraged the discussion in Parliament of increasing social problems like sexual abuse.
Maiava Visekota Peteru, who is also a lawyer, says the number of sexual abuse cases in the courts in increasing.
She says its a major concern, and blames it on an underlying root cause.
"That our traditional values are being, y'know they're being deteriorating. So there needs to be a strengthening of the village councils, and a strengthening of our customary beliefs."
