This year marks the 18th anniversary of Father’s Day celebrations with a public holiday with the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development calling for more recognition of fathers' roles. 

The MWCSD said fathers in Samoa lead the society through their families, churches, village communities and the nation as it hosted discussions to mark the national celebrations at their conference hall. The program was held to honour all fathers who made an effort to lead in a just and dignified manner.

The Minister of Women, Community and Social Development, Leota Laki Sio said in his keynote address at the conference that for most Samoa families fathers were the backbone.

“This year 2023 marks the 18th year since Samoa celebrated Father's Day, where we value the roles of fathers in leading their families and serving through families, village, church and the government," said Leota. "We are yet again celebrating it this year again to keep adding value in the work fathers do through their leadership for the better of Samoa going forward."

According to the C.E.O. of the Ministry, Dr. Mema Motusaga, she said it is important that all men should lead by example in accordance with good governance principles. 

“The theme Taimataali’i Taiali’i is really speaking to the role of men as the leaders who should be championing the principles of good governance in the village setting, churches, or in their families or setups like forums where they come to as government representatives,” she said. “Them leading the advocacy on ending violence against women and girls, the work on our gender markers and the safeguard measures that we have.” 

The participants at the conference were divided into three discussion groups: government women representatives; the men representatives; and the focus group for young people (both men and women). The conference organisers divided the participants into groups so each one of them could talk freely and also respect their space to share freely.

“We are hoping that after today and tomorrow, we will collate [discussion points] what we have gotten from them and put it in an article or an academic piece to publish," said Dr. Motusaga. 

The fathers-focused discussion conference that is run in Upolu will also be run in Savai'i for the government representatives and the youth.