The Samoa National Council of Women (S.N.C.W.) marked its 68th anniversary on Thursday as it hosted a forum on promoting new methods to end violence against women and girls.

More than 150 women gathered at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel and Bungalows for the event.

Attendees included representatives from various non-governmental organisations such as Nuanua O le Alofa, Samoa Fa’afafine Association, and the Samoa Victim Support Group.

An overview of the Spotlight Initiative - a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls - was presented by a United Nations representative. 

The forum was also an opportunity for the Women’s Council to celebrate the 68th anniversary of its establishment, which makes the S.N.C.W. one of the original and oldest non-government organisations (N.G.O.) in Samoa. 

A moment of silence was held in memory of the founding and council members who paved the way for the establishment of their organisation and have contributed to its work over the years.   

According to the S.N.C.W. President, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, the event marks both a forum to discuss the issue of violence against women and it is also to celebrate how far the council has come.

Fiame said women leaders and wives of paramount chiefs established the council, which also included the wife of a New Zealand Governor.

She said that the health and well-being of Samoa's people is the council's paramount goal. 

“The S.N.C.W. was established in 1953, but our headquarters was built and opened in 1968,” she said.

“We serve our villages…but the prosperity of villages is in your hands.”

The Prime Minister said that the issue of violence against women must be tackled.

“This is a challenge for us, how we can prevent violence against women," she said. 

Fiame added that data on health and education reveal our people are getting sick while some have a great lack of intelligence. 

The President of the Women’s Council told its members that they hold the key to making changes in their communities. 

Entertainment was also provided by some members of the S.N.C.W.

The S.N.C.W.’s traditional mandate is to support village council governance and decision making and, in turn, to advance the roles of women in society.

It was established in 1953 as the national forum for women in the country; before the government established the Ministry of Women Affairs (M.W.A.) in 1991.

Its headquarters is known as the “Mothers’ Centre" or the "House of Love” which was built and opened in 1968 through donations. S.N.C.W. is one of the few N.G.O.s that owns land and tries to financially self-support its administration.