A child was discovered sleeping in front of another family’s home as she made her escape from her abusive home ,and a teenager was killed after enduring sexual abuse by her relative.
The Samoa Victim Support Group president Siliniu Lina Chang said these were the horrific realities faced by the children of Samoa.
Samoa Observer reports Siliniu warned there has been an alarming increase in cases of child victims being abused sexually and violently.
“This has prompted SVSG to examine the situation more closely. Reports of parental negligence, the tragic death of a disabled girl, and the search for missing children by concerned parents and families on social media have raised serious concerns,” she said.
“It is particularly disheartening to witness girls, as young as eight-years-old, being sheltered as victims of sexual abuse by their relatives.”
One such case involves a girl currently under SVSG’s care, who was discovered by a family sleeping in front of their home.
The child had been a victim of abuse and felt too frightened to return to her abusive home environment.
The public was also devastated to hear about the death of a 13-year-old girl, who was sexually abused and killed by her relative at her own home, according to Siliniu.
As a humanitarian civil society organization in Samoa for the past two decades, SVSG seeks to understand the public’s perspective and awareness on the growing issue of violence and abuse against children.
“As SVSG commemorates its 20th anniversary, it is calling for urgent action from the Samoan community to address these critical social issues. Parents and families must confront these uncomfortable truths and ensure the safety of all children from violence and abuse,” said Siliniu.
She said community leaders, including those in villages and churches, should revisit strategies aimed at addressing these issues.
