Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa has credited the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) with reshaping the nation’s conscience, as the organisation marked 20 years of service on Friday.
Speaking at the anniversary event, Fiame described SVSG’s work as a movement that has given voice to the silenced, courage to communities, and healing to survivors. “Your work has shaped the conscience of our nation,” she said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged founder Siliniu Lina Chang and her team, while placing survivors at the heart of the occasion. “We honour the survivors—those whose bravery has sparked change and redefined our understanding of tautua and alofa.”
Fiame said Government has been proud to walk alongside SVSG, pointing to national frameworks and community networks built over the last decade, including:
- The National Child Care and Protection Policy
- The Early Childhood Development Framework
- The Pola Puipui Framework
- A national frontline of Sui o Nuu, Sui o Tamaitai, and Sui o le Malo
She also highlighted Samoa’s District Development Project, which sets aside 20% of all district funding for Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion –
“a first in the Pacific.”
SVSG was described as one of Government’s most trusted allies, with outreach spanning trauma shelters, school visits, family engagement, and programs like the Torch of Change.
“Government cannot do this work alone,” Fiame said. “The bridge between policy and people is built through partnership.”
She warned of new challenges – digital harm, economic hardship, climate stress – and said Samoa’s response must remain grounded in community care.
“In every village, every home, and every heart, protection begins with love,” she said. “When we uplift mothers, listen to children, and stand with the broken, we build not just a safe Samoa, but a sacred one.”
Lauga
Saunoaga Autu mo le Atoaga o le 20 Tausaga o le Toomaga mo ē Puapuagatia
Autu: 20 Tausaga o Faigapa’aga i Aia Tatau ma le Saogalemu o Afioaga
Susu lau susuga i le Taitai o le Sauniga
Afifio Minisita o le Kapeneta
Afifio tatou Paʻaga mai fafo
Susu ma papa a’ao le mamalu o le au valaaulia
Talofa lava,
O lea ua logo faisoa le ta’atiuga a ali’iseu nai tuāvao. Sa fa’atau silimea le matega ae tatali i Lagi le semagauaga a le Tagaloa Aʻopo, mulia’i ae tōafuafu o vaifaʻaifo ua tutumu ai vaipapa, le ata fa’ailo o le Pule fa’amalumalu a le Tapa’au Sili i le Lagi i lo outou lagisoifua.
Tulouna la le afifio o Tama ma Aiga, o Aiga ma Tama, le Usoga ia Tumua ma Pule. Ae matua le tu’u i aofa’alupega o feoi o le talalelei o lo’o nofo tatalo aua se manuia o Samoa.
O le asō, tatou te patipatia faiva o fa’atufugaga, sula le loto fa’amalieina ma nafa sailimalo na fafau ma fofoa e le To’omaga mo ē Puapuagatia. O le tautua ma se auaunaga na lalagaina le moemoe fou e ofaga iai lē ua mafatia e mapu ai. O le ala lea ou te tūlā’i ai e fai ma sui o le Malo ma ana pa’aga e fa’aleo ma le loto fa’afetai ma le fa’agae’etia le atoaga o le 20 tausaga o le tautua a le To’omaga mo ē Puapuagatia.
Na afua mai i le 2005 i se mea iti lava, ae ua tupu ma lautele ona o le sailia o le amiotonu, o le to’omaga e mapu ai lē ua tigaina mo se laveai o lē ua leai se fa’amoemoe. O se fa’alapotopotoga sa fai ma leo e fa’ailo to’atuga o matua tausi, tinā, tamā, fanau ma aiga mo se fofō o le gasegase o lo’o latou feagai.
E fa’afetaia ai Siliniu Lina Chang ma le aufaigaluega ona o latou sa tu i matagiolo mo suiga lelei ma o le tautua ofoina e fa’avae i le alofa ma le fa’amaoni.
E le iti’iti le silasila a le Malo i lo outou sao, ma o se auaunaga e lagolagoina ma le atoatoa e le Malo. E tatalo atu ai fo’i i si o tatou atunu’u ma pa’aga, ia tatou tutu fa’atasi i taumafaiga uma a le To’omaga mo ē Puapuagatia mo se Samoa manuia ma saogalemu.
“I so’o se afioaga, o loto uma o aiga – o le puipuiga e afua mai i le alofa. A o tatou lagonaina siuleo o tatou fanau, si’itia le saogalemu o tinā, fesoasoani mo lē ua mafatia, ma amanaia lē ua tu’ulafoaina – o se fa’asinoala lea o se Samoa saogalemu ma soifua manuia. O se Samoa e amanaia ma taua tagata uma, e iloa ai o le aiga e tasi i tatou ia Keriso.”
Ou te fa’apea atu ai, ia manuia tele le fa’amanatuina o le 20 tausaga o le To’omaga mo ē Puapuagatia.
Soifua.
