Access to Justice for All Women and Girls: Enablers and Barriers
2026-03-11 - 15:47
Tuesday, 10 March | 10:00–13:00 | Conference Room 4, CSW Ministerial Roundtable 37, Presentation by Associate Minister Hon Tilafono David Hunter entitled: Access to Justice for All Women and Girls: Enablers and Barriers. Mr Chairman and Distinguished delegates. Samoa, recognises that justice must not only exist within courts and national institutions, but must also be accessible within the villages and communities where women live and where decisions affecting families and communities are made. For this reason, Samoa has taken deliberate steps to strengthen justice systems from the community level upwards, combining national legislation, community governance mechanisms, and sustained investment in district-level development. At the national level, Samoa has strengthened its legal framework through legislation such as the Family Safety Act 2013, which provides protection mechanisms for victims of domestic violence, including protection orders and coordinated responses from police, courts and social services. Samoa has also committed 20 per cent of its national development budget to each district through the Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion framework under the District Development Programme, which support community-led programmes that strengthen **access to justice, prevention of violence, and safer communities.” For Samoa, the main barriers include: •Geographic access, as women in rural and remote villages may face challenges reaching courts, police services, or legal assistance. • Social stigma and cultural pressures, which may discourage women from reporting violence or seeking help. • Limited awareness of legal rights and services within some communities. Enablers and Actions include; 1. The Village Representatives Programme, where every village has both a female and a male representative who serve as trusted community focal points, who connect individuals to government services. 2. Working with traditional leaders and strengthening of village by-laws under the Village Fono Act, including provisions addressing violence, drugs, and harmful behaviours. 3. Partnerships with civil society organisations by; •providing services and support for survivors of violence, •delivering community awareness and education programmes, and •supporting prevention initiatives and advocacy for women’s rights. These partnerships help extend justice services beyond formal institutions and into communities, ensuring that women and girls are aware of their rights and the support available to them. Through these collaborations, Samoa is strengthening a whole-of-society approach to preventing violence and promoting justice for women and girls. “Samoa remains committed to strengthening justice systems that are accessible, community-centred, and responsive to the needs of women and girls. Through strengthened legal frameworks, sustained district-level investment, collaboration with traditional leaders and civil society, and expanded legal awareness in communities, Samoa continues to advance a justice system where no woman or girl is left behind. We look forward to continued collaboration with partners to strengthen these efforts globally.” Thank you for your attention