By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

APIA, Samoa – A Samoan Supreme Court judge, Vui Clarence Nelson, has called for the Samoan authorities to consider building a facility to shelter victims of sexual crimes.

Judge Nelson recently sentenced two men for raping an eight-year old girl. He made his statement to the Samoan authorities after deciding the case.

One of the men was sentenced to ten years in prison, while the other was sentenced to three years in prison. Both men pleaded guilty to raping the child.

Concern for victims of sexual crimes in the Pacific region has been raised even more after the recent event in Auckland, New Zealand. A serial rapist was convicted for brutally raping numerous women and young girls.

Justice John Priestley, who sentenced the New Zealand man to prison for 19 1/2 years, said that the “damage caused to the victims was aggravated by their cultural factors, which caused law self esteem, financial loss, lack of trust and safety, and depression.”

Many of the victims, who were young girls, attempted suicide.

The victims in this “cultural context” that Justice Priestley mentioned regard themselves as being “irretrievably damaged.” According to the statements made by the victims, the damage is enormous and in some cases permanent.

Because of the severe damage caused to women and young girls who have been victims of sexual crimes, many judges, such as Justice Priestley and Judge Nelson, and community development leaders, such as the Samoa Victim Support Group, have urged more shelters and facilities for victims of sexual crimes.

Judge Nelson stated that given the increasing number of sex crimes involving young girls, the “time has come for the appropriate authorities to consider setting up a refuge for the victims.”

The Samoa Victim Support Group reaches out to young victims and helps care for them in the aftermath of the sexual crimes. Judge Nelson commended the Samoa Victim Support Group for its efforts to care for the victims of sexual crimes.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Samoa judge calls for facility for sex crime victims – 05 April 2010

Voxy New Zealand – Rape Victims Brave to Come Forward, Says Judge – 24 March 2010

Yahoo News – Rape victims brave to come forward, says judge – 24 March 2010