Transcript
Many presentations indicated how normalised domestic violence has become in Samoan society.
People came forward to share their stories about family violence and offer solutions to a team of government appointed commissioners chaired by Samoa's ombudsman.
The National Council of Women pointed out that many organisations shared varying messages, and at times conflicting ones - a sentiment echoed by the Nurses Association and a suicide prevention advocacy group.
The group, Faataua Le Ola said a deteriorating society focussed on materialism and greed is what's causing people to take their own lives as domestic violence is a major cause of youth suicides.
Its president, Papali'i Carol Paul-Ah Chong, said this is in part because Samoa is drifting from its Christian roots.
"Unfortunately with each passing year it is becoming more and more apparent that Samoa is founded on God the holy trinity in name only. Beneath our professed christianity is a cesspool of filth (excuse me) deceit, lies materialism power greed that begins within the very core of Samoan society, our families, our churches, our villages."
She says the practice of giving huge sums of money, which families often cannot afford, to cultural and church events becomes a major burden on families and can end up stoking domestic violence.
"We do not like to upset the status quo so we continue on sweeping everything under the carpet, hoping our problems might just resolve themselves and disappear. Hello Samoa, wake up before it is too late. We need to get back to basics. We need to clean up Samoa and rid it of materialism and the desires of the flesh. "
A member of Samoa's National Youth Council, Tuala Victor Vaauli, shared some key observations about common types of domestic violence experienced by young people.
"So one is verbal abuse, second is married women and violence experienced by young married women, the third is economic violence and the fourth is teenage pregnancy."
Tuala Victor Vaauli says it has been good for people to be able to speak openly about issues of concern, like underage sex.
He said during a survey last year of people of aged 18 to 35, they found there were many teens growing up in villages had given birth to several children by age 19.
"Yes that is very young and yet that is some of the issues that were happening in the villages and community, but they have never been revealed or been brought out to the public to actually find solutions ."
Another Samoan woman Zita Martel posted a video online, describing a domestic violence incident between a married couple that she witnessed just driving down the street.
Ms Martel said at the time, another witness nearby to the incident just laughed and so posting her video was one way to break the silence over domestic violence.
That video went viral and was viewed more than half a million times in a two week period.
"She (the woman in the car) is just literally just petrified and well all her face is all bruised and bleeding as he'd been doing this for sometime in the car. So that's the incident that got me involved in this and it just so happens that the same week was an inquiry on domestic violence going on in Samoa. "
She is really hoping that the outcome of Samoa's inquiry into family violence will bring about change in people's behaviour and attitudes.
Lawyer Leautuliilagi Vanessa Barlow Schuster agreed, saying there is a strong need for attitudinal change.
A report by National Health Services representative Dr Isaia Taualapini, looked at the treatment of victims at hospitals and clinics and said doctors had no mandate to report any suspected injuries from family violence to police, and gender based violence is not currently considered a public health concern.
Samoa's ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma, the commission's chair, labelled as cowardly, the prevailing attitude among Samoan men that women contribute to acts of sexual assault committed against them by their behaviour and fashion choices.
With the hearings over, a report of the findings and recommendations is being drawn up.
This is Sara Vui-Talitu.
