The acting head of the UN Human Rights Office for the Pacific says Samoa is providing an example for the rest of the region when it comes to rights.
Catherine Phuong was in Samoa when its first Periodic Human Rights Review was released.
It was issued by the Office of the Ombudsman under its role as the National Human Rights Institution.
The report highlighted many issues such as gender inequality and abuse, the rights of children and the state of local prisons.
Ms Phuong says the report and the rights focus of the Ombudsman mark a great time for Samoa and the region.
"Until only a few months ago when Fiji re-established its own national human rights institution, until then Samoa was really the only Pacific island country to have a national human rights institution. It's really seen as a model now for the rest of the region and it's doing really good work."
Samoa's first Periodic Human Rights Review report highlights abuse suffered at the hands of a woman's husband or her mother in law. Photo: RNZ / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
