Samoa's Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development hosted a forum last Friday in Apia to raise awareness of children's rights in Samoa.

As the focal point for child protection in the country, the ministry coordinated a program called "Children's Forum" at the Tooa Salamasina Hall in Sogi to raise awareness with the MWCSD saying children's rights are "mostly misinterpreted in our country".

Convened with the assistance of its partners, there were presentations on different topics with National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) representative Ellenlina Moala presenting on the content of the declaration and the explication of child’s rights. 

The forum was also an opportunity for the ministry to advocate the importance of child safeguarding in sports which Toluiva Keneti of Lakapi Samoa touched on, while Rosalina Ah Sue from the MWCSD spoke on the Child Protection Response Pathway in the Inter-Essential Services Guide. A representative from the Samoa Family Health Association, Leiloa Asaasa Ropati spoke on the desensitisation of issues in relation to sexual reproductive health pertaining to youth.

Government Ministries, civil society organisations, selected community representatives, and students from selected schools were invited to listen and share with the chosen presenters on the presented topics. The Minister for Women, Community and Social Development, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio'o also attended the one-day event.

Additionally, the ministry’s main goal for the event was to ensure the importance of Samoa's children was celebrated and awareness was raised amongst the people to guarantee that everyone is fully equipped with the knowledge and skills in order to work together in ensuring children are well taken care of and protected. One of the key messages conveyed by the ministry was, “The care and protection of our children, is everyone’s responsibility”. 

Samoa signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 29 November 1994 with the commitment under the Convention to enact necessary legislation to give domestic effect to the CRC. Samoa prioritises all articles under the CRC with efforts to promote and protect the rights of children.

There have been legislations and policies developed in Samoa's efforts, such as the Infants Ordinance 1961, Samoa Family Safety 2013, Samoa Education Act 2009 and the pending Child Care and Protection Bill 2020. 

The current Samoa National Child Care and Protection Policy 2020-2030 sets out the Samoa government's priorities towards child care and protection, emphasising prevention, and addressing current and emerging issues and challenges concerning the care and protection of the children in Samoa. Although a lot of work has been done to ensure children are protected and are recognising their rights as human beings, there is still more that needs to be done, according to the ministry.

Samoa celebrates the importance of children every year in October during the White Sunday public holiday. However, this year, the ministry recognised the Universal Children's Day which is celebrated every year on 20 November in honour of all children in the world. The international theme for this year is "For every child, every right". This day is widely celebrated to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and to raise awareness about our children's rights, education and welfare.