American Samoa's Attorney General says victim blaming in cases of domestic and sexual abuse in the territory is encouraged by the misuse of the cultural concept of "ava fatafata" or respect.
Photo: Flickr - European Parliament/Pietro Naj-Oleari
Eleasalo Talauega Ale was speaking at a vigil for victims of violence at the Office of Samoan Affairs.
He said this attitude was especially prevalent when dealing with high ranking officials in the government, church and culture.
Talauega said with all the domestic and sexual violence they have to deal with on a daily basis, he was surprised at the lack of outrage within the community.
"I am often asked this question 'Does our culture encourage victim blaming' A high chief of a village is accused of molesting a child or is accused of beating up his wife."
"You know there is this thing in American Samoa called 'ava fatafata' - Do we respect too much to the point where we ignore what's killing us because that's what sexual violence does," he said.
The ceremony marked the start of National Domestic and Sexual Abuse Awareness Month.
