Samoa Inter - Agency Essential Services Guide for Responding to Gender-Based Violence and Child Protection

Women and children survivors of violence in Samoa will now have better response, referral and coordination of gender-based violence services with the release of their new protocol to guide the referral pathway between survivors and multi-sector service providers, the Inter-Agency Essential Services Guide for Responding to Cases of Gender-Based Violence (IESG).

Evidence shows that gender-based violence and child abuse are serious issues in Samoa and standard operating procedures for responding to cases across agencies and sectors is critical to a successful response for addressing violence against women, as well ensuring child protection.

The IESG is a culmination of two years of work, including national consultations with key stakeholders from relevant sectors and CSOs; and technical drafting, review, design, and translation of the final guidelines.