Story

They need to hear, and change for peaceful families and societies.

18 May 2023

TV discussion including two men and two women. — Caption: EFKS TV Host Martin Taumate, Lualua Namulauulu Tautu ( Traditional leaders and Rural villages rep) Lemau Palaamo ( Faith -based organisations) and Mailo Helen Tanielu ( Researchers and Academics)

Photo: © UN Samoa | Spotlight Initiative

NRG continue to advocate the core spiritual and cultural values to create societies where women and girls are safe.

“The advocacy should not stop, even if they don’t want to listen, we need to continue talking about this issue.”

The determination in Lualua Namulauulu Tautu’s voice on TV5, during one episode of the Spotlight Initiative National Reference Group Mother’s Day, ‘Let there be light to free our women from violence’, media talk show.

Six people sitting around the table in a TV station — Caption: (L-R) Aterina Samasoni ( RCO) Louisa Apelu (UNDP) Fagalima Tuatagaloa ( Faafafine and Faatama) Lualua Tautu ( Tradtional leaders & rural village) Taimalelagi Ramona Tugaga ( Youth leaders and Young women) Fuatino Pam Sua ( CSO and Women Movements)

Photo: © UN Samoa | Spotlight Initiative

Advocating to amplify the Spotlight Initiative’s key messages on ending violence against women and girls is one priority of the work of the NRG.

The week leading up to the Mother’s Day weekend, the NRG of ten members committed their time away from their daily organization and community functions to speak on local television and radio stations.

Lualua, as the representative of the Traditional leaders and rural villages seat in the NRG, resides on the big island of Savaii and had to travel over to Apia to bring the voice and perspective of the traditional leaders into this advocacy.

‘The matai’s (traditional leaders) are looking into time and opportunities to bring the young men together and create activities where they are educated on spiritual and cultural values that instill peaceful behaviors so that they do not become violent fathers and husbands,’ according to Lualua.

“It is an approach and what we need to do, to prevent violence before it begins.”

Even the church leaders in every village continue with their role to preach and teach spiritual values of humility and love and living prayerful and peaceful lives, Lualua also emphasized.

“However, it falls on the person, if they do not open their ears and hearts to hear and learn these messages, that is the problem.”

“But we should not stop advocating, the more we make noise about this issue, the time will come when they eventually open their ears,” Lualua said.

With the support of the RCO and the UNDP the NRG members NRG Mother’s Day, ‘Let there be light to free our women from violence’ Media Campaign was live on EFKS TV, Talofa FM radio station, Eye Spy radio and TV 5.