A United Nations committee has found that Samoa lacks systems to respond to cases of enforced disappearances, raising concerns about gaps in legal protections and investigative processes.

The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances said Samoa does not have adequate mechanisms to search for missing persons or to investigate and prosecute alleged cases, RNZ reported.

The findings were released during the committee’s latest session, which also reviewed Ecuador, Iraq, and Malawi.

Enforced disappearance is defined as the abduction or detention of a person by state agents, or by individuals acting with state support, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the person’s fate or whereabouts.

The committee expressed concern that Samoa does not have a specific criminal offence addressing enforced disappearance, with penalties reflecting the seriousness of the crime.

It also highlighted the absence of formal systems to locate disappeared persons, noting that current responses appear limited. The report questioned the requirement to wait 24 hours before initiating a search, adding that efforts seem to rely mainly on posts through official Facebook pages and other communication channels.

The committee recommended that Samoa develop a national strategy and establish proper mechanisms to search for disappeared persons and handle such cases effectively.

Further concerns were raised over the lack of information regarding investigations into alleged illegal inter-country adoptions. The committee noted limited capacity within the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development to properly register and monitor adoptions.

It also pointed to the absence of regulation around informal adoptions within extended families, warning that such practices could place children at risk of enforced disappearance.

The committee recommended that Samoa introduce clear procedures for reviewing and annulling adoptions, placements, or guardianship arrangements. It also called for systematic birth registration across the country as a safeguard to protect children.