The Ministry of Police and Prisons, the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, and the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs are joining forces under a coordinated national initiative to address drug harm and violence in Samoa.
The collaboration follows a leadership meeting earlier this week between the Acting Commissioner of Police, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs, where the three agencies agreed to work together and combine their respective strengths, programmes and resources in a coordinated national effort.
That commitment was progressed today through the inaugural meeting of PACT Samoa — Prevention, Action and Community Transformation: National Taskforce on Drugs and Violence, hosted and chaired by the Ministry of Police and Prisons.
PACT Samoa will bring existing Government programmes, resources, evidence and referral pathways under one national umbrella. It will not replace work already underway. Instead, it will strengthen the combined impact of existing initiatives, reduce duplication and ensure communities receive consistent prevention messages and clear pathways to support.
Chaired by Acting Deputy Commissioner Leausalilo Norman Tuafale, the agencies agreed to develop a two-tier, phased and evidence-informed programme developed by the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs.
Tier One – National Leadership Talanoa
The first tier will bring together Government, district, village, church and community leaders to examine available evidence, emerging trends and the underlying causes of drug harm and violence. The talanoa will strengthen leadership ownership, identify priority communities, agree on consistent national messages and guide the phased community programme.
Tier Two – Community Programmes
The second tier will deliver practical prevention and support programmes with communities, families, young people and children. Activities will include community and family talanoa, youth-led prevention, age-appropriate engagement with children, drug and violence education, positive parenting, practical refusal and decision-making skills, legal awareness, counselling, early identification and referral.
The programme will be introduced in phases, to test the coordinated approach, listen to communities and strengthen delivery before wider expansion.
The joint commitment of the three agencies is about strengthening, rather than replacing, work already being undertaken. This is not about replacing valuable programmes already being delivered. It is about connecting our programmes, evidence and resources so that their collective impact is stronger. “Preventing drugs and violence requires leaders, communities, families, young people and children to work together. People must leave our programmes not only with information but knowing what actions they can take and where they can access help.”
The Ministry of Police and Prisons will lead on community safety, policing, drug-related offending and prevention. The Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration will contribute legal awareness, justice information and rehabilitation perspectives. The Ministry of Family and Social Affairs will lead prevention work relating to gender-based violence, including GBV 101, connect the initiative with communities and families, support counselling/ mental wellbeing through the Ministry of Health and coordinate referral pathways, as well, lead monitoring and evaluation.
The agencies will now consolidate existing presentations, videos, community programmes, data and referral information; confirm priority locations and resources; and develop an implementation schedule. Subject to Management consideration, PACT Samoa may also be aligned as a sub-taskforce under the Japan-funded Resilient and Drug-Free Communities Project.
One national umbrella. One coordinated direction. Leaders, communities, families, young people and children working together for a safer Samoa.
