The Samoa Youth Forum can help support the voice of the young people of Samoa to help empower them to participate in international rights mechanisms.

That is the view of the U.S. Embassy's Deputy Head of Mission, Mark Hitchcock when he gave a speech to mark the opening of the Samoa Youth Forum 2022, which attracted students from 12 schools around the country.

Mr Hitchcock joined Ombudsperson Luamauvao Katalaina Sapolu and Senior Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson for the opening of the forum.

“As strong partners we must learn and lean on each other to better respond to disasters, pandemics, and economic shocks with strong political systems that champion democratic values, human rights, equity, and inclusion, and we do this by supporting the empowerment of all people to be fully engaged, inclusive, and well-informed, particularly those who are tasked to lead us into the future; our children,” said Mr. Hitchcock.

“Our hope is that through continued partnership like this Forum we can help support the voice of young people in Samoa to help empower them to participate in international human rights mechanisms and lead us into a future that is resilient, free and open.”

The Forum was hosted by the Office of the Ombudsman / National Human Rights Institution in collaboration with SPC, Justice Vui and Child Rights Connect with funding from USAID.

PROJECT Governance is a USD$19.8 million five-year partnership between USAID and the Pacific Community (SPC).  

It aims to achieve sound, just and responsive governance in the 12 Pacific Island Countries (PICs), by working towards changing long-standing incentives that impede government transparency; creating relationships of mutual accountability; strengthening a culture (and practice) of integrity promotion and corruption prevention; removing opportunities to manipulate electoral processes and impeding citizen engagement; addressing a culture of impunity; amplifying throughout society the role that government should play in their lives; and ensuring media can foster transparency and accountability.