Statement by the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, Mr. Themba Kalua- OFFICAL OPENING CEREMONY Spotlight Initiative CSO Knowledge Exchange Forum 2023

• Rev. Dr Eteuati Tuioti
• Hon. Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o, Minister of the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development.
• Excellencies and members of the Diplomatic Corp
• Heads of UN agencies
• Heads of Civil Society Organisations
• Distinguished representatives of the CSO
• Ladies and gentlemen

Talofa lava.

Let me unequivocally state that the fight against GBV will never be won without a strong and vibrant civil society.

I am deeply honored to join you and the Minister of Women, Community and Social Development for the official opening of the second Civil Societies Knowledge Exchange Symposium under the Spotlight Initiative for Samoa, funded by the European Union.

I am particularly pleased that this symposium is happening during the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, which was launched by the honorable Minister yesterday, an event I had the privilege of attending. The 16 Days of Activism, initiated by civil society organizations and supported by the United Nations, stands as a testament to the formidable force CSOs can be when united in purpose.

This gathering is also significant as it precedes the conclusion of the Spotlight Initiative in just one month. The Initiative underscored the crucial role of civil society in the fight against GBV, offering financial and technical support to numerous CSOs globally, including those here in Samoa. I would like to express my gratitude to the Government for its leadership in the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative and to thank the European Union for its generous financial support.

Allow me to share three reflections with you this morning:

Number 1:

I commend each of you for your unwavering efforts in the fight against GBV. Through the Spotlight Initiative, CSOs have been instrumental in transformative initiatives at the grassroots, offering crucial support to survivors, challenging harmful social norms, and fostering new behavioral patterns. Our reports indicate significant progress, including heightened awareness, increased reporting, enhanced leadership capacities, economic empowerment, improved prevention efforts, and better cross-sectoral coordination. This symposium provides an opportunity to celebrate these achievements collectively.

Number 2:

The vital role that civil society plays has been there for decades. Projects and programmes come and go depending on the availability of donor funding but CSOs are always there sometimes operating under dire circumstances. The Spotlight Initiative provided the opportunity to you, to benefit from financial and technical support since 2020. This week is an opportunity to reflect on how you will sustain the gains made during the spotlight. Not all civil society organizations had the opportunity to benefit from the spotlight initiative and how have you used this opportunity to further the work that you do beyond the funding of the Spotlight Initiative. I am aware of the critical help financial resources can be but not all solutions cost money. For example, how do you leverage technology to organize and speak up when there is a GBV incident in your communities. Beyond donor funding, are there activities that you are doing that would help you generate some income that can be used for the running of your organizations?

Number 3:

I want to share with you my personal experience based on my experience in working with CSOs in different countries. For example, in Papua New Guinea where I served before coming here, I found civil society that play a critical role in the fight against GBV. In most cases, acting as first responders when there are incidents of GBV in the communities. Yet these civil society organizations lacked minimum capacities to enable them receive donor funding and they often operated in isolation. While there, I led efforts to develop the first civil society capacity building and advocacy strategy. We facilitated efforts to get the civil society organizations to form into an alliance so that they can speak with one voice. These challenges are similar to what CSOs face in most countries undermining their critical role in raising awareness, advocacy and in holding government accountable.

In order for civil society organizations to play their role effectively,

1.       CSOs must be united. Advocacy is more effective when done collectively. Women’s movement has been very critical in advocating for transformative changes across the world. I am therefore happy to see here – 23 organizations present, including 10 villages from the My Village My Pride Campaign, 6 Village – Family Safety Committees, and 21 Samoa National Council of Women villages.

2.       CSOs must build necessary systems and capacities to enable them to receive financial support and ensuring accountability and reporting on achieved results.

3.       We must increase investments in civil society organizations. I therefore appeal to government, development partners, private sector to provide more support to CSOs. This message is also for me and my colleagues at the United Nations to provide more support to CSOs. Working with national civil society organizations builds their capacity, helps us tap into local knowledge and indigenous systems thereby making our interventions more effective and contributing to sustainability of initiatives and results.

I would like to reiterate the commitment of the United Nations to continuing to support the Government of Samoa in the addressing GBV.  As we discuss future support post the current Spotlight phase, it's clear that civil society will be a key and central actor in those efforts. I encourage you to reflect on lessons learned and areas that could be improved in future as we collectively affirm the pivotal role of CSOs in creating a world free from violenc for every woman and girl.

I congratulate the CSO National Reference Group for organizing this event. As we celebrate achievements and reflect on the significant work ahead, let us remember that the fight against GBV will never be won without a strong and vibrant civil society.

I wish you all a successful symposium.

Fa'aaloalo ole faiva tauave o tagata uma. Fa'afetai tele lava.