Women’s Role in Resolving Social Problems

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At today’s Faafaletui a Tamaitai or Women’s Roundtable, the president of the advocacy group Pae ma le Auli, Leiataua Leuga Turner urged a return to traditional customs to address some of the prevalent social problems in the territory.

Partnering with Pae ma le Auli to host the conference were the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and Fetulima Aputiputi Counseling Program.

Leiataua spoke about the special place and honor that women have in the Samoan culture, as reflected in Samoan sayings and proverbs.

A sister is a special covenant to her brother. She is also the apple of her brother’s eye.  And women are born into society with a honorific title,”o le auga faapae.”

Women are also referred to as, “pae ma le auli,” they smooth and iron out wrinkles, differences or tensions.

Leiataua said it’s important to reawaken these tenets of Samoan culture to encourage and empower women to take their place of honor in their families and villages and use that influence to tackle social scourges that have disrupted families: drug abuse, domestic violence, suicides, teenage pregnancy and others.

Its her view that a reawakening of these traditional customs needs to happen with women taking the lead.

In her opening address First Lady Cynthia Malala Moliga noted that the territory has several organizations and agencies offering services that deal with such problems,  She urged collaboration among these groups.

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The First Lady stressed continuity in services.

A panel of five women and one man discussed women’s roles in addressing issues that affect women and families,  how men in leadership roles can help empower women and how community especially mothers can help solve identified societal problems.The panelists were Lydia Faleafine Nomura, Hope Kruse, Laaloi Lili’o, Pinisi Roe and Fainuulelei Alailima Utu.

Nomura, the DOI Field Representative talked about her experience as a coach for girls volleyball and how sports can help keep young people from falling astray.

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