By Staff Writer
The United Nations has made its formidable presence felt in Samoa by calling on the country to uphold its commitment to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
The UN call came in a statement of support for efforts against “…violent threats, intimidation, verbal and physical harassment and abuse.”
There was no specific reason behind the UN call but it follows closely the scandalous remarks about herding women to the Tiafau Malae for the men to deal with as they please.
The FAST political party chairman La’auli Polataivao Schmidt made the comment in a live television political panel discussion.
Women rights advocators and supporters have since condemned the comments as verbal abuse and a threat of violence to the women in Samoa.
The angry reaction is further inflamed by the understanding that the controversial remarks coming from a prominent political leader.
“Any form of discrimination including offensive and defamatory language affecting women is unacceptable and incompatible with Samoa’s commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the human rights agenda,” the UN statement reminded.
A candle-light march is being organised in the streets of Apia at the end of the working day tomorrow, Monday 12 July 2021, to protest the insulting comments made against the women. (see other story)
The UN statement did praise Samoa for making “significant progress’ in its commitments to international conventions for the rights of women like CEDAW and the Beijing Platform Action.
The conventions are to fulfill, protect and respect women’s human rights.
“Nearly 20 years after its first pledge, Samoa must sustain progress by upholding democratic values such as gender equality and women’s unrestricted participation in the country’s public and political life.”
The UN statement noted that globally 1 in 3 women experience some form of violence in their lifetime, whereas in the Pacific the ratio jumps to 2 out of 3.
Disasters and humanitarian crises are among the reasons for it as well as poverty and economic stress.
COVID 19 is seen as one reason for the stress due to restrictions in movement and related economic hardships.
“The United Nations stands with all women of Samoa and remains committed to ensuring women feel safe in addressing gender-based violence and voicing their concerns when threatening and aggressive language is used.
“Equal and cohesive societies are a prerequisite for peace and a fundamental goal of the United Nations.”
The Tiafau Malae was recently at the heart of another march women to show support for the Constitutional rights of a 6th seat in Parliament for women.
The Appeals Court agreed when it ruled to confirm the extra seat under the Constitution.