The Paradisus Conference Hall in Cancun, Mexico shook at the sounds of Samoan celebratory singing on Sunday night as a delegation received the “Leaving No One Behind” Award of the Global Spotlight Initiative.

Through singing and dancing, both in the Pacific and on the global stage, Samoan women express their love of life, their love for the family and the values keeping the community together. 

And they sang for the world to hear that Samoa leads the way in ending violence against women and children everywhere, according to a statement released by the United Nations Office in Samoa on Sunday evening.

It was Sunday night in Samoa and late Saturday evening in Cancun, but no one was sleeping, as the great news came through that the Spotlight Initiative programme in Samoa received global recognition. 

The recognition was for its inclusive dialogue approach around the dramatic reality of increasing numbers of victims of domestic and intimate partner violence, said the UN statement. 

“In many ways, the award gives voice to the painful silence surrounding victims of domestic violence, women and children who are denied the basic right to a dignified life," said the UN Resident Coordinator in Samoa, Simona Marinescu.

Gratitude and tears of joy overwhelmed the Samoan delegation led by the CEO of the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development, Dr. Mema Motusaga, Co-Chair of the CSO National Reference Group Fagalima Tuatagaloa, Gabrielle Apelu of Apelu Sports representing the Regional CSO NRG and Youth Representative Gutu Faasau, as they gracefully danced their way over to the stage to receive the award.

Finally, Samoa and our efforts towards ending violence against women have been recognized, Civil Society National Reference Group Co-Chair Fagalima Tuatagaloa said when receiving the award.

The Spotlight Initiative in Samoa is a nationally owned programme funded by the European Union through a dedicated partnership with the United Nations to end violence against women and girls. 

“The programme continues to achieve results because the Spotlight Initiative Team listened and designed interventions to suit the context of our communities, their level of knowledge and their capacities to deliver," Fagalima said in the UN statement. 

Dr. Mema Motusaga said the award recognises the collective effort and partnerships within the Spotlight programme.

“The award recognizes the collective effort and partnerships within the Spotlight programme built on relevant policies, grounded on the concept of family, enhanced by cultural and religious values and a load made lighter with everyone committed to ending violence against women and girls as their main goal," said the Ministry's CEO in the statement. 

Ms. Marinescu, cheering from Samoa on social media, was highly emotional following the announcement in Cancun, Mexico. 

“The award is the highest recognition of Samoa’s work under the Spotlight Initiative. We have come a long way, yet more is needed for women and children everywhere to live without fear," she said, according to the UN statement.  

The five programmes nominated for the “Leave No One Behind” Award included Samoa, Liberia, Tajikistan, Honduras and Zimbabwe.  

The Award recognizes the Spotlight Initiative programme team’s commitment to the Leave No One Behind principle of the 2030 Agenda. The programme is assisted in Samoa by UNDP, UNESCO, UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA and the UN Resident Coordinator Office working closely with the Civil Society National Reference Group, a mechanism of 10 CSO  representatives aiming to ensure that, in ending domestic and intimate partner violence in Samoa, dignity of victims is protected including through high-quality services while root causes of violence are being identified and addressed.