Pacific

Anti-violence worker says men in Samoa need forum to talk

15:49 pm on 9 December 2015

A campaigner on domestic violence based in New Zealand says groups in Samoa need to have trained facilitators to help men change their behaviour.

The Chairman of the Samoa Victims Support Group Auckland, Taliaoa Filipo Tipoai. Photo: SVSG Auckland

Taliaoa Filipo Tipoai is the Chairman of the Samoa Victims Support Group Auckland, and has been running his own sessions for men in New Zealand for 35 years.

He says there have been many successes from his forum where men can talk freely and open up about themselves.

He says too often men blame their partner or their culture for their own anger issues and violence, but they need to realise they have a choice.

"Violence is nobody's culture, it's a matter of choice. Men need to do deal with their own problems. A lot of men say you know it's my wife... you know I always say to the men it's got nothing to do with that, everything, as far as the issue is concerned, it comes down to your choice."

The United Nations '16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence' finishes tomorrow.