One of The Queen’s main themes of royal work is combatting violence against women and girls, often carrying out engagements in the UK and on the global stage to do so. Camilla’s visit to Samoa was no different this week – speaking at the CHOGM Women’s Forum, The Queen called to ‘end domestic and sexual violence across the Commonwealth, now and forever’.
Camilla opened her speech at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel on by sharing the ‘wonderful’ Samoan proverb: ‘E au le Inailau a Tama’ita’i‘, which means that ‘women will turn their hands successfully to any task that must be done, and will work hard until it is completed’.
She then went on to share that – according to legend relating to the proverb – ‘a competition was once held between men and women in a village to thatch the roof of the house of Chief Tautunu. Although they started at the same time, the women finished their side first, as they had laboured through the night, while the men slept.
‘As one whose husband is often toiling into the small hours, long after my head is on the pillow, I should stress there are plenty of exceptions!’
The royal visit is her first to both Australia and Samoa as Queen Consort (and Charles’ first as Monarch), and the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) of The King’s reign, with the event forming part of the CHOGM CHOGM Women’s Forum, also attended by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland of Asthal.
Discussing how the theme for the Forum was “Advocating for Women and Girls in the Commonwealth”, The Queen noted that a gigantic task lay ahead in making sure that all men and women have the ‘same spirit that inspired those women thatchers’ as discussed in the proverb and to come together ‘to end domestic and sexual violence across the Commonwealth, now and forever’.
Sharing ‘shocking statistics’, Camilla mentioned that 30% of women have been subjected to either physical or sexual violence in their lifetime globally, most of this abuse coming at the hands of an intimate partner.
The Queen noted how the Commonwealth features ‘leaders from around the globe are willing to meet, as equals, and to have difficult, and constructive, conversations’ to tackle the ‘vastness of the issue’.
‘The Commonwealth Says NO MORE campaign, which takes a culturally sensitive approach towards ending domestic and sexual violence, is supporting people from all walks of life to identify and implement practical steps which we can all take to make homes, workplaces and communities safe for women and girls. We know that abuse can be prevented and ultimately eliminated, but only if we work together until that task is completed. That is our commitment – to each other, to the Commonwealth and to the generations to come’.
On the third day of the visit to Samoa, Her Majesty had the privilege of opening the ‘Queen Camilla Pre-School of Hope’, as Samoa Victims Support Group (SVSG) continues their mission to raise awareness and educate young people of tackling and preventing violence against women and girls.
The Pre-School consists of a small campus where up to 100 children who have experienced abuse are given care and an education, while domestic abuse victims receive support and counselling. The Pre-School was filled with donated toys, books and furniture.
Camilla told members of the Support Group: ‘You’re doing such a wonderful job for these children; I will go back to Britain with fond memories’.
Earlier, Camilla also joined SVSG board members and chatted to two former victims of abuse. The group discussed how those who have suffered abuse are helping to empower others and noted it was important ‘to be able to come back and talk to others who have suffered and show them the way’.
