Chang also acknowledged their partnership with the Ministry of Justice, Administration and Court which has referred many of the many cases to them to address.

The counselling programme organised by SVSG has been hailed a success. 700 men and women have graduated from the programmes which began in 2014.

"The programme is based primarily on counselling, a foreign concept to our people, but a support that is greatly in need for our efforts to end violence in our homes," said Chang.

"It also includes anger management, couple counselling, alcohol and drug counselling, stress management and counselling on family issues."

SVSG was established in 2005. Its mission is to provide an integrated, personalised and professional service to all victims of crime.

The organization was set up on a dream of a young, single lawyer who identified the difficulties faced by victims who do not have support from family members.

It was founded to care for, support and help victims of sexual crimes but, after the first few cases it handled, SVSG saw that victims in other areas also sought help.

SVSG's work now extends to victims in any area of need, whether it be from domestic violence, from harassment in the workplace, or from poverty.

Last month SVSG was awarded the Samoa Public Service Innovation & Excellence Team Award for "Most Effective Collaborative Partnership".

The Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration nominated the organisation for the award in recognition of SVSG's work with the Courts.

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Samoa Victim Support
• Facebook
• Image: Facebook

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi opened the Sydney branch in Liverpool recently.

He said that promoting awareness of gender-based violence is important, as is offering a place of safety for victims.

He added that the Samoa Victim Support is strongly supported by the government and went on to say that it "is clearly a very important part in our national response. It is a response that includes government, non government and civil society organizations to address this silent menace that continues to plague our communities in Samoa".

At the recent Pacific Islands Forum meeting in the Cook Islands, Prime Minister Tuilaepa said Pacific leaders were urged to face up to the issues of victim support and domestic violence. A special fund of AUS$320 million to support gender equality efforts in the Pacific had been announced by Australian PM Julia Gillard at the Forum.

"It included in the stated objectives the improved safety of women through the prevention of violence and access to justice," Prime Minister Tuilaepa said.

He urged the Samoan community in Australia to use the Samoa Victim Support Group's services to the full.

"In Samoa the message and awareness of the rights of women and children who find themselves in violent and abusive relationships is delivered with the support of village councils and the churches working through these established organizations. It certainly has the full backing of government", he said.

Sources

• Savali
• Image: Samoan Woman (S.U.G.A.)

Currently domestic violence comes under the Crimes Ordinance Act.

But the Family Safety Bill aims to give more power to police, health officials and educators to prevent violence and rehabilitate victims.

In an interview on Radio Australia International Lina Chang, president of Victim Support Group said her group was very involved with domestic violence and rehabilitation. She hopes that with the bill being introduced, "we will manage to convince our people to have a different mind set".

Source

• Radio Australia
• Image PPVP