Samoa applauded for national human rights institution

13th December 2013The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat applauds the Government of Samoa for establishing a national human rights institution that has the mandate to protect and promote human rights.Forum Secretariat applauds Samoa for establishing a national human rights institution

13th December 2013The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat applauds the Government of Samoa for establishing a national human rights institution that has the mandate to protect and promote human rights.

The newly established National Human Rights Institution of Samoa was officially launched on International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013, providing the people of Samoa a facility to have their human rights issues addressed.

The Office of the Ombudsman, which also functions as the National Human Rights Institution of Samoa, was made possible when the Parliament of Samoa passed the Ombudsman (Komesina O Sulufaiga) Act 2013 earlier this year to include human rights as part its function.

“The Secretariat offers its support to the Government of Samoa and the Office of the Ombudsman with a view to supporting its activities in relation to the promotion and protection of human rights nationally and regionally,” says Feleti Teo, the Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

“This is quite an accomplishment for the Government of Samoa; the establishment of a dedicated institution mandated to promote and protect the human rights of citizens, is a show of commitment on behalf of the government to ensure that its citizens are provided with the necessary and fundamental mechanisms that will allow them to fully enjoy their rights.”

(2013-12-13/scoop)