Samoa's ombudsman says village councils, or Fono o Matai, need to do more to help stop domestic violence. Photo: AFP
Samoa's Ombudsman says village councils, or Fono o Matai, need to do more to help stop domestic violence.
Government figures show reported cases of domestic violence more than tripled from 200 in 2012 to 723 in 2015.
Maiava Iulai Toma said violence may be fortified by attitudes embedded in traditional Samoan culture.
He said the Fono o Matai were very powerful Fa'a Samoa institutions which could help address violence in the home.
"Village councils can be very good and in fact take action against things that happen in their villages," said Maiava. "But generally speaking, when it comes to domestic violence, action is minimal."
Maiava, who also heads Samoa's human rights office, plans to launch a commission of inquiry into domestic violence next month, to be headed by himself and two academics from Samoa and New Zealand.
He said he aimed to go to Parliament by 2018 with a comprehensive understanding of domestic violence in Samoa and outline means for overcoming it.