The Samoa Victim Support Group is preparing for a nationwide road trip covering Upolu, Savaii, and Manono-tai, in a hopeful and thanksgiving Campaign, titled: The Torch of Peace Journey. The Journey is scheduled for ten days from 30 October to 10 November 2023.
While statistics on cases of violence indicated an upward trend in light of the COVID-19 pandemic while the brutality of violence committed against women have led to death for some, as a strong advocate of violence free families and communities, SVSG continues to remain hopeful.
Putting the Spotlight on the Torch of Peace is therefore, SVSG’s effort to raise the visibility on community solidarity, community engagement and community action to address GBV to date, with an emphasis on violence against the most vulnerable, usually women and children.
The Torch of Peace 2023 therefore:
• symbolizes hope, peace and light for a community that has come a long way from the silent acceptance of GBV – which has been apparent in Samoa in the past – towards vocal and visual community solidarity and action.
• acknowledges progress we have made as a community, together with the support of government and development partners, to ensure a safer Samoa
• highlights a journey of faith by a nation, grounded in its Christian beliefs and cultural values, that despite the social, health, environmental and economic challenges, we remain stronger together.
• builds the momentum for continued action, as set down ten years ago by the SVSG Torch of Peace journey of 2012.
SVSG is calling on all its extended families established with the community to join us in amplifying the voices for the abused, while embracing the Torch of Peace for what it represents – hope, peace and light.
The Torch of Peace is an SVSG activity implemented with funding support from the UNDP