 (photo from: https://www.humanium.org/en/samoa/) Written by: PROVISION Media
You’ve heard about relationship red flags, but what about pink flags? Pink flags could be the precursor to red flags and could begin with an unkind word, hints of jealousy, the occasional angry outburst, followed up by loving apologies. Parents of someone who is being abused by their partner don’t always bear witness to these events, like many others. But, some signs of domestic violence could include your child spending an increased amount of time with their partner while abandoning their personal interests, which could signify they are losing their individuality. One example could be if your child always bends to the whims of their partner, it could indicate they’re trying to avoid conflict. But what if they genuinely care for their partner and are looking out for them. Pink flags could be hard to recognize. The good news is that parents can talk to their children about domestic violence even before it becomes a concern and talk about pink flags. It’s important to start the dialogue early on, so they feel comfortable talking about it, so if it becomes an issue, they feel safe. Anisha Patel-Dunn, DO, Chief Medical Officer at Life Stance Health says, “Anytime parents notice a sudden change in their child’s attitude or behavior, I recommend finding a safe place and time to talk.” If you are concerned, have a private conversation with your child. “But avoid communicating through phone or email, abusers could monitor electronic communication,” says Patel-Dunn. If you’re unsure how to begin, Dr. Bethany Cook, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, advises asking general questions like, “Are you happy?” or “Does this person inspire you to be a better version of yourself?” before sharing specific changes you’ve noticed in their behavior. “Ask if they’ve noticed the changes as well. Ask them if they like the changes.” Try to remain calm and avoid accusations. “Give objective feedback. Maybe they haven’t noticed changes in behavior,” she says. If you’ve discovered that your child has been the victim of domestic violence, you may feel as though you’re partially to blame because you didn’t see the signs, however, experts agree that this couldn’t be further from the truth. “I want to reiterate that domestic violence is never the victim’s fault or the victim’s family and that it can happen to anyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation,” says Patel-Dunn. It’s a common tactic for abusers to claim that the fault lies with the victim, but that is so they can continue the emotional abuse and shame their victims.” While no parent can prevent their child from experiencing an abusive relationship, recognizing signs and getting them help can possibly save their life. If you suspect any type of abuse, there are resources available. If you need help immediately, please contact 911, or LBJ at 633-1222. For further information on resources please press here.
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 Written by: Judy Matautia, Training Coordinator
O Ianuari o le masina ua atofaina mo le faatupulaia ole malamalama ma le silafia aemaise o le puipuia mai i le faafitauli lenei o le fefaatauaiga o tagata. O se tasi foi lenei o sauaga o lo o faatupulaia i atunuu ma vaega eseese o le lagolagi, e a’afia ai ma Amerika Samoa, ma o Amerika Samoa fo’i, ua i ai lana tulafono e puipuia ai ona tagata mai lea ituaiga sauaga. I talaaga ma suesuega o lenei faafitauli atonu e mafai ona faapea nisi e le’o tupu i Samoa lenei ituaiga faafitauli, ma atonu e mafua ona tatou manatu faapea ona tatou te le’o malamalama tele i lenei faafitauli, ae po’o a faailoga vaaia, o ai tagata e ono tutupu ai, ae o ai foi i latou o lo o latou faatinoina lenei solitulafono, ae po o a ni auaunaga o lo o avanoa mo i latou ua sauaina, ae o ai e mafai ona sulu atu ai se tasi ua sauaina mo se lavea’i. E tele naua’i fesili e ono tula’i mai i lenei mataupu. O foliga nei o le faafitauli iinei i Amerika Samoa - o tatou sootaga faaleaiga atonu e fai ma pogai e mafua ai. E toatele tagatanuu Amerika Samoa o lo o latou aumaia ma faanonofo tagata o latou aiga mai Samoa po o nisi atunuu iinei, ma o nisi o nei tagatanuu o Amerika Samoa ua latou faasasa i nei tagata ona latou feoa’i, pe le faia foi o latou pepa faigaluega, ae ua na’o na faanofonofo i le fale, ma faia feau. O nisi ua faafaigaluega ae latou te le mauaina lava se seleni, ae e ave uma i le tagata o lo o nofo ai le tagata lea. O le fefaatauaiga o tagata e tutusa lava ma le faapologaina o tagata. E tele ona tatou faapea, o la e e faia o tatou galuega alofa i tatou aiga mai fafo, peita’i afai e le’o maua e tagata nei mai fafo se ola saoloto, ae na’o le faia o feau o aiga, le faigaluega leai foi se seleni, pe faigaluega ae leai lava se seleni, pe ma’i ae le avea i le falema’i, pe faasasa ona alu ese mai le fale, pe le faia foi pepa nofomau, ma nisi lava gaioiga le talafeagai, o lona uiga o lo’o sauaina lea tagata i sauaga o le fefaatauaiga o tagata – ua e aumaia se tagata mai se isi atunuu, atonu e le’o faatau atu i nisi tagata, ae o lo’o e faapologaina. O ai e tele ona sauaina, a’o ai foi e faatinoina – o tagatanuu o nisi atunuu o lo o fia saili manuia mai i totonu o Amerika Samoa ma e manaomia ona faia o latou pepa nofo mau e se tagatanuu o Amerika Samoa. O le fefaatauaiga o tagata e faatinoina e tagatanuu o Amerika Samoa o lo o latou aumaia tagata mai fafo e faanonofo i totonu o Amerika Samoa ae faaaogaina sese lea avanoa e pulea ma faapologaina ai nei tagata mai fafo. O sauaga i le fefaatauaiga o tagata, o se tasi lea o mataupu e tele ona le gaganaina pe faailoa mai ona o le tele o taimi e a’afia ai le aiga ma nuu. O lo o i ai ni auaunaga ma punaoa o lo o avanoa mo i latou ua sauaina I le fefaatauaiga o i latou, ae mo se lavea’i po o se fesoasoani vave, e tatau ona logoina le ofisa o leoleo. O sauaga o le fefaatauaiga o tagata, o lo o faatupulaia ma e ono mafai ona foia fo’i e le tatou aganuu. O le taumafaiga ina ia faaitiitia sauaga uma i Amerika Samoa, e manaomia tele ai le avea o le tatou aganuu faaSamoa ma se vaega tele o le faatalanoaga, pe faaaogaina le aganuu e fausia ai aoaoga e faatupulaia ma faamausaliina ai le ‘le taliaina’ e nuu ma afioaga o ituaiga amioga ma uiga faasaua. E maua le tatou malosiaga sili pea tatou faatasitasi ma galulue mo se lelei ma manuia o tatou nuu ma aiga, ma tatou taumamao mai ai ma le ola taotaomia, mafatia, ma le pologa ae ia faatumauina pea Samoa ma ona tagata I le ola saoloto!  Written by: Eleanor Leituposa, Media
January is Human Trafficking Awareness month. The purpose is to raise Awareness that it is a business practice based on stealing people’s freedoms for profit. Traffickers use tricks to defraud or physically force victims to sell their bodies for sex. Victims can be told various lies, assaulted, threatened, or manipulated to move to unsafe spaces. Human Trafficking is a serious crime that can destroy a victim’s dignity, and fundamental rights. Traffickers will use criminal exploitation of vulnerable people because victims are described as poor, have limited English proficiency, are transgender youth, or domestic caregivers and they are vulnerable. It is important to note, American Samoa is not unaffected by human trafficking. There are reports where young women from Samoa are brought to American Samoa for domestic chores and can be subjected to sex trafficking. In 2007, five (5) Chinese national were jailed for trafficking Chinese women into the country to work as prostitutes in bars and nightclubs. In January 2010 it was alleged trafficking victims came into the territory without necessary immigration checks. Human Trafficking happens here in the territory. Please be aware that human trafficking promotes sexual assault, and it is important to become informed to spot the signs of trafficking. Here are indicators of human trafficking: Individuals living with their employer, living within poor conditions (i.e. multiple people in cramped space, no bathrooms, no running water, no electricity, etc), they are not allowed to speak to anyone, and employer is holding identity documents. Additional signs can be signs of physical abuse, they are unpaid or paid very little, and can be under 18. Now is the time to educate about human trafficking and discover the signs of trafficking. These messages should be shared in our workplaces, our churches, our schools, our representatives, and everywhere else. Photo retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/photos/prison-prisoner-slavery-162885/ |