21 Jul 2017

Samoans encouraged to discuss teen pregnancy

7:23 am on 21 July 2017

Samoan community leaders in New Zealand are being encouraged to openly discuss and support teenage pregnancies more.

A young woman in Samoa was being given a ten year-jail term for infanticide this week.

Her case is just one of a number of incidents within Samoan communities involving babies being abandoned at birth or infanticide.

Labour MP, Su'a William Sio.

Labour MP, Su'a William Sio. Photo: parliament

The Samoan Labour MP for Mangere, Aupito Su'a William Sio, said he's waiting to hear back from the police this week on whether they can provide a proper funeral for a child that was found in at an Auckland park.

Aupito said it's sad that a young woman, whoever she may be or whatever the circumstances are, felt the need to hide a pregnancy.

"There is a responsibility on church leaders, on our matais and our leaders of our families to provide that safe environment to have a open frank discussion about sex, about child birth, about the need to protect people in our community - the ones that we supposedly love very much."

Aupito said he encourages open mindedness among leaders when confronting this issue that can be hard to talk about.

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