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Written by: Vatauomalotetele Fanene

August 26th is known nationally as Women's Equality Day, a special occasion dedicated to honoring the progress made towards achieving gender equality. Let's shine a light on the incredible women of American Samoa and the importance of striving for equality in their lives and beyond.
American Samoa being a vibrant and diverse community, it is home to countless remarkable women who contribute their talents, skills, and wisdom to the fabric of society. They are leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, and so much more. Women have always played a vital role in American Samoa and Samoan culture. They have been the backbone of the family, the community, and the economy. In recent years, women have made great strides in education, employment, and politics. Together, they shape the present and future of our island.
One of the most important roles that women play in our community is as mothers and caregivers. They are responsible for raising the next generation of Samoans and instilling in them the values of our culture. Women are also the primary caregivers for the elderly and the sick. They provide love, support, and care for their families, often at the expense of their own needs.
In addition to their roles in the family, women also play a vital role in the community. They are active in churches, schools, and community organizations. They are also the driving force behind many small businesses. Women are also increasingly entering the workforce and making significant contributions to the economy.
But let's also acknowledge that there is still work to be done. Women's Equality Day reminds us that achieving true gender equality requires breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and creating inclusive spaces. By advocating for women's rights and empowering women in American Samoa, we can foster a society where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.
Despite the progress that has been made, women in American Samoa still face many challenges. They are more likely to live in poverty than men, and they are less likely to have access to education and employment opportunities. They are also more likely to be victims of violence and abuse. By recognizing the importance of women in Samoan culture and society, we can take steps to address these challenges and create a more just and equitable society for all.

Let's honor the women of American Samoa who have paved the way for progress and change. Let's listen to their stories, amplify their voices, and learn from their experiences. Together, we can create a future where every woman is respected, valued, and given the opportunity to fulfill her dreams.
Together, let's build a world where gender should never be a barrier to success, and where equality and respect are the guiding principles for all.
Here are some specific ways that we can celebrate Women Equality Awareness Day:
* *Educate ourselves about the challenges that women face in American Samoa and around the world.*
* *Support organizations that work to promote gender equality.*
* *Encourage women to pursue their education and careers.*
* *Speak out against violence and abuse against women.*
* *Be allies to women in our lives.*
By taking these steps, we can help to create a more just and equitable society for all women.

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written by: Luana Scanlan 
On July 31, 2023, the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual
Violence received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
a grant of $125,830 to conduct a Primary Prevention Capacity Assessment to enhance and
expand primary prevention and health equity work in American Samoa.
This is a 12-month project ending August 1, 2024, at which time the Alliance is expected to
deliver the following outcomes:
1 – increased understanding of our staff’s expertise and available resources to address sexual
violence
2 – increased understanding of available data sources used to identify populations in our
community who are experiencing health disparities
3 – increased understanding of current partnerships and how these are/are not meeting
primary prevention and health equity work needs
4 – increased understanding of current technical assistance provision and how well it
incorporates health equity.
The Alliance is required to use the outcome data to produce recommendations and action steps to advance sexual violence primary prevention activities that also address health inequities.
Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their
highest level of health (CDC, 2023). In contrast, a health disparity or inequity is the preventable higher risk for disease, or less opportunities to achieve the highest level of health, by people who are disadvantaged by their social or economic status, where they live, and/or their environment.
We invite our service providers and organizational partners to participate in the upcoming
talanoa to assess these issues! Safety is our primary concern – your consent will be requested, and your responses will be reported in anonymity. The resulting data will provide evidence to inform our collective efforts to stop sexual violence before it happens in our community!

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​Tusia: Judy Mata’utia
O le aganu’u e mafai ona faauigaina faapea o manatu, tu ma aga, ma amioga faa-agafeso’ota’i o se vaega o tagata, po’o se atunu’u. I le avea ai o tatou ma tagata Samoa, oi tatou o ni tagata e mitamita, aemaise
lava I le tatou aganu’u. Tatou te faataitaia, faatinoina ma tatou faalauiloaina.
Ae faafefea la sauaga? O fea e sau ai sauaga, ae aisea e mafua ai, ae po’o se vaega o le tatou aganu’u,
aemaise o sauaga e faasaga I tama’ita’i, fanau ma i latou e vaivai? Afai o le tulaga lea, ua tatau loa la ona suia
le tatou tala faamatala, tala faasolo, tala faifai pea, tala feavea’i, po’o le tala faasolopito o tagata Samoa!
O mea e tutupu ma tula’i mai, o ripoti ma suesuega, o faamatalaga ma faamaumauga, e faaalia mai ai se
ata o le tatou lotoifale, atonu tatou te le mitamita e faatalanoaina lea tulaga. Ae atonu o se mea sese tele lea, aua
I le avea ai o tatou o se nu’u, o se aiga, o tagata ta’itasi, e tatau ona mafai ona tatou faatalanoaina lea tulaga. E
le mafai ona foia se faafitauli sei vagana ua talia ma faailoa e iai se faafitauli. O le tele o tatou, o le tatou
vavevave ia I luga o le upega tafa’ilagi ma faaalia o tatou manatu ma lagona I mataupu e faatatau I sauaga faale-
itupa, ma pei e faaalia ma faafoliga mai tatou te le taliaina ia faiga. Ae pe moni ea lea tulaga, pei o se galu foi
lea na’o na faafua ae le fati?
O lo’o tula’I mai foi faafitauli ogaoga I le soifua maloloina o tama’ita’i Samoa o lo’o feagai ma sauaga.
O lo’o faapea mai faamaumauga a le malo aufaatasi, o tama’ita’i Samoa ua a’afia I se mafutaga ma se paaga, e
46% oi latou nei ua a’afia I se tasi po’o le tele foi o ituaiga sauaga e faia e se paaga. O sauaga faale-tino o le
ituaiga sauaga ta’atele lea ma e 38% o tama’ita’i Samoa ua a’afia, soso’o ai le 20% o sauaga tau feusuaiga ma
sauaga faale-lagona e 19%. Mai latou e a’afia I sauaga faaletino, e 30% oi latou na ripotia nei sauaga ua a’afia
ai manuaga o le tino. Mai latou na ripotia le sauaina I sauaga faale-tino mai se paaga, e 24% oi latou nei sa ta
tu’I, fekiki pe na sauaina ao ma’I taga, ma oi latou o lo’o faia sauaga nei o le tama lava o le pepe lea e le’i fanau
mai. Mai tama’ita’i uma na ripotia mai le a’afia I sauaga e 78% ua a’afia I sauaga faalotoifale, 11% ua a’afia I
sauaga tau feusuaiga, ma e 11% na a’afia pe na faia iai ni faiga faao’olima mataga.1
Pe tusa ma le 97% o tama’ita’i ua a’afia I sauaga faalotoifale, latou te le’I ripotia o latou sauaga I leoleo,
ma e 36% oi latou nei latou te le’i ripotia ona sa latou faapea o tulaga nei o tulaga na’o le va lava o le tane ma
lana ava, 8% e le’i riporia ona faapea o le’o se tulaga matuia ma e 7% e le’i ripotia ona e sili atu ma
faatumauina pea le alofa I le toalua. Mai latou nei e 96% o le e faia sauaga o ta’i toalua o nei tama’ita’i. Pe
tusa ma le 70% o tama’ita’i e iai le latou manatu e faapea e iai le alaga tatau e sauaina ai e alii o latou ta’i
toalua.2
E tatau ia’i tatou o tagata Samoa ona faia se suiga e le na’o le tatou faailoa ma faafoliga se suiga ae ia
faia se galuega po’o se faatinoga o suiga, ona o le mea e tatau ona faia, ma o lo’o faia uma e le lalolagi atoa,
aemaise ona e tutusa o tatou talitonuga, o sauaga e le’o se vaega o le tatou aganuu. E tatau ona tatou auai I
suiga ona e le tatau ona sauaina o tatou tina ma tama’ita’i, e tatau ona tatou auai ina ia puipuia o tatou fanau. O
suiga e amata mai totonu o tatou aiga, ma e mafai ona tatou oo atu ono faia suiga I se tulaga faale-malo, pe afai
e amata ona tatou talanoaina tulaga ma mataupu nei I totonu o le tatou lotoifale, aiga ma I totonu o nuu ma
afioaga ta’itasi. O le faafitauli o sauaga faale-itupa e le’o se faafitauli tau na’o tama’ita’i, ae o se faafitauli e
tula’I mai I totonu o aiga uma, tagata uma, le tatou atunuu atoa ma le tatou aganuu.

1. https://thecommonwealth.org/news/blog-samoas-response-violence-against-women-and-girls-can-guide-other-
countries#: ~:text=Almost%20nine%20in%2010%20Samoan, five%20women%20has%20been%20raped.

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