Building Samoan advocates’ capacity

Over the last few months, we have been building on our completed virtual TrackGBV Train-the-Trainers intensive program with participants from the Ombudsman’s Office and Ministry of Justice in Samoa. The training featured the latest TrackGBV data from Samoa which can be explored in our recently launched TrackGBV Dashboard. 

The case law analysis shows that in Samoa between 2014 and 2020, contentious factors like gender stereotypes, customary practices, or other contentious factors were used to reduce perpetrators’ sentences in over 1 in 2 GBV sentencing decisions.

Samoa Train-the-Trainers program affinity mapping session

Check out what one of our participants, the Director of Human Rights at Samoa’s Office of the Ombudsman/National Human Rights Institutions, Loukinikini Vili, had to say about TrackGBV and the Train-the-Trainers program:

Vili shared, “the training not only showed us information about the trends in sentencing decisions, but it definitely got us thinking about a lot of things. Some of them include, what was the judge thinking when they gave the decision or what type of information was provided to the judge that influenced their decision?”

“When we were analyzing some of Samoa’s gender-based violence sentencing decisions, we were also able to identify and discuss different gender biases and discrimination and how patriarchy and toxic masculinity in Samoa drive gender-based violence.”

Another participant, Faagutu Vaalotu, from the Ministry of Justice shared that, “this training has refreshed my thinking about ways to improve the way we work. I think there’s a lot of areas we need to look closely at.” 

Vaalotu explained that TrackGBV fills some of the gaps they have from not having an integrated electronic case management system. She adds, “We have the challenge of not having an integrated electronic case management system. With the case analysis from TrackGBV, that really puts the alarming picture of what’s happening out there. That sort of approach is very effective in driving this message, especially if it’s the judiciary that’s handing down the decisions.”

We have been working with the cohort to plan this year’s advocacy strategy for judicial policy reform as well as more trainings for other stakeholders. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue sharing the TrackGBV Dashboard with stakeholders around the Pacific region. 

Links:

Listen to Loukinikini Vili, Director of Human Rights at Samoa’s Office of the Ombudsman/National Human Rights Institutions