From Ambassador (Visit to "campus of Hope")
2025/3/20
Visit to "Campus of Hope"
On a rainy day of the 20th, I visited the facilities of the Samoa Victim Support Group. This facility, named " Campus of Hope," provides refuge for children affected by sexual violence and domestic violence. At the time of my visit, there were 99 children; 70 of them were girls up to 20 years old, 29 were boys up to 11 years old, and there were also 6 babies under 1 year old. Additionally, there were 2 teenage girls who had unwanted pregnancies. There are children here not only because they have been victims of violence but also because they can no longer live with their parents due to disabilities and other reasons. These numbers are a result of the facility's capacity, and the actual needs are greater, they say.
At the facility, the manager and the president of the support group, Siliniu Lina Chang, greeted me. As I mentioned in the article about Samoa's hina matsuri, a considerable number of girls in Samoa are subjected to domestic violence and human rights violations. Many of these cases are often covered up, especially since older perpetrators tend to be protected within Samoa's extended family system, leading to a lack of transparency in how cases are handled. Moreover, cases taken up by the police for criminal prosecution are limited.
The facility has a 24-hour help line that is publicised through schools and other means. When reports are received from victims, they are prepared to respond immediately and provide emergency assistance.
For the systematic relief of such victims, it is essential that the existence of the "problem" is widely recognised. The activities of this centre play a valuable role in documenting these realities and presenting them as evidence.
Japan also supports this group through grassroots initiatives, aiding in the construction of shelters and the rebuilding of crime victim support centres. The shelter was named "Sakura House."
On a rainy day of the 20th, I visited the facilities of the Samoa Victim Support Group. This facility, named " Campus of Hope," provides refuge for children affected by sexual violence and domestic violence. At the time of my visit, there were 99 children; 70 of them were girls up to 20 years old, 29 were boys up to 11 years old, and there were also 6 babies under 1 year old. Additionally, there were 2 teenage girls who had unwanted pregnancies. There are children here not only because they have been victims of violence but also because they can no longer live with their parents due to disabilities and other reasons. These numbers are a result of the facility's capacity, and the actual needs are greater, they say.
At the facility, the manager and the president of the support group, Siliniu Lina Chang, greeted me. As I mentioned in the article about Samoa's hina matsuri, a considerable number of girls in Samoa are subjected to domestic violence and human rights violations. Many of these cases are often covered up, especially since older perpetrators tend to be protected within Samoa's extended family system, leading to a lack of transparency in how cases are handled. Moreover, cases taken up by the police for criminal prosecution are limited.
The facility has a 24-hour help line that is publicised through schools and other means. When reports are received from victims, they are prepared to respond immediately and provide emergency assistance.
For the systematic relief of such victims, it is essential that the existence of the "problem" is widely recognised. The activities of this centre play a valuable role in documenting these realities and presenting them as evidence.
Japan also supports this group through grassroots initiatives, aiding in the construction of shelters and the rebuilding of crime victim support centres. The shelter was named "Sakura House."