In 2019, the Samoa Law Reform Commission carried out public seminars on the 6 laws under its Family Laws Review:
- Infants Ordinance 1961
- Marriage Ordinance 1961
- Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Ordinance 1961
- Maintenance and Affiliation Act 1967
- Family Safety Act 2013
- Family Court Act 2014
Public Awareness Seminars 2019
The first public seminars were carried out on 29 July 2019 at Apita Hall Salelologa for Savaii, and on 31 July 2019 at Tooa Salamasina Hall for Upolu. A round of seminars were then conducted in September 2019 at Neiafu for the villages from Asau to Falelima; at Sagone for the villages from Fagafau to Taga; at Samauga for the villages of Aopo to Patamea; and at Salelologa for the villages from Gataivai to Salelologa to Puapua. For Upolu, the round of seminars were held in October 2019 at Apia for the villages from Apia to Falelatai, Apia to Falevao, Apia to Tiavi and the Apia Area; at Saanapu-uta for the Districts of Lefaga, Safata and Siumu; at Sapunaoa for Falealili District, at Lalomanu for the Districts of Lepa & Lotofaga and Aleipata; and at Taelefaga for the villages in the Fagaloa District.
The main goal of those public awareness seminars was to explain what those 6 laws were about. At the close of those seminars, we undertook that in 2020, we would be returning to seek public input on those 6 laws we discussed in 2019.
We are happy to advise that Cabinet has now endorsed the Commission’s Discussion Paper for public consultations.
Public Consultations 2020
The Commission now informs the public that the first round of public consultations will be conducted in March – April 2020 on the first 2 laws.
- Infants Ordinance 1961
- Marriage Ordinance 1961
Details of venues (in Upolu and Savaii), dates and times for these consultations and further rounds of public consultations on the other 4 laws will be confirmed and announced at a later date.
Discussion Paper
The Commission’s Cabinet endorsed Discussion Paper is now also available for comment. Copies of the Discussion Paper can be downloaded from the Commission’s website www.samoalawrefrom.gov.ws or you can uplift a copy from our office at First Floor of the FMFM II Building, Matagialalua.
We invite submissions from the public on any or all matters discussed in this Discussion Paper. The Commission strongly encourages the public to submit comments on this Discussion Paper – either through formal submissions addressed and delivered to the Commission, or at the public consultations. Your submissions will inform the Commission’s Recommendations in the Final Reports to Cabinet.
The due date for public submissions on the first 2 laws namely the (i) Infants Ordinance 1961; and (ii) Marriage Ordinance 1961, is Friday 29 May 2020.
For more information please contact us by emailing commission@samoalawreform.gov.ws or on telephone 28493/94.
Ma le faaaloalo lava,
Telei’ai Lalotoa Mulitalo
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
