Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) received close to 100 calls through the Helpline during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period, from 23 December 2023 to 3 January 2024.

An analysis of the calls identified 30 per cent were for domestic violence incidents, either from victims of violence themselves or referred from the National Health Services, SVSG village representatives in the community and concerned neighbours.

70 per cent were calls from the community, seeking counselling assistance and advice on general matters, such as broken families due to separation because of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, village matters about title bestowment, spouses anticipating violence as their partners were out partying during the holidays and many others.

Through the Helpline service, abused women were relocated from their husband's families to their own families, while the couples sorted out their differences; abused children were also brought under SVSG’s shelter care by working in partnership with the Ministry of Police.

The SVSG Helpline service started in 2013. People only call in when they are being abused. The Helpline service was more of a response mechanism to incidents of violence.

SVSG Helpline statistics show that people are more aware of the support services, and are now using the Helpline as a Preventative tool to address violence.

According to SVSG, calling up for counselling has helped the callers in dealing with family and domestic violence situations.

“The 70 per cent of the callers to the Helpline during the holiday season attest to this behavioural change in the community towards violence. This is a good start to the year,” said SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang.

She acknowledged the co-sponsorship from Digicel Samoa and Vodafone Samoa which has enabled people to call the Helpline free of charge. 

“And by doing so, they were able to access support during violent situations and can prevent violence from happening through being informed,” she said.

“Thank you also to the Taskforce with the Ministry of Police and the timely referrals from the National Health Services of domestic violence cases during the holiday season.”