After gaining independence from New Zealand in 1962, Samoa became the first small-island country in the Pacific to become a sovereign nation. That same year, they established their current constitution which declares, “Except as expressly authorized under the provisions of this Constitution, no law and no executive or administrative action of the State shall, either expressly or in its practical application, subject any person or persons to any disability or restriction or confer on any person or persons any privilege or advantage on grounds only of descent, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, place of birth, family status, or any of them.” Women gained the right to vote in 1991, and a year later the government ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was appointed Minister of Education in 1991, becoming the first female Minister in the Samoan Cabinet, and in 2021, she was elected the country’s first female Prime Minister. Despite these advancements toward gender parity, Samoa has only ten percent female representation in parliament, and one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. According to UN Women, “46% of Samoan women who have ever been in a relationship have experienced one or more kinds of partner abuse.” With the tireless efforts of female-led NGOs such as the Samoa Victim Support Group, the voices of Samoa’s most vulnerable populations are being heard through advocacy and violence prevention programs.
Though inequities exist for women in sport, significant attention has been made over the past few years to promote sports participation among women and girls. The Australian Government recently launched the Pacific Women’s Sports Leadership Program, which unites women in sports leadership positions from all over the Pacific, and established “Team Up,” a sport for development program that promotes gender equity and inclusion. The Samoa Women in Sports Commission is also advocating for female sporting opportunities while providing leadership and development training. Netball and rugby rank among the most popular sports for women and girls with the women’s national netball team currently ranked 16th in the world. Arguably the most successful athlete in Samoan history is weightlifter, Ele Opeloge, who won the country’s first Olympic medal by bringing home silver at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Meet and support global leaders creating change in Samoa:
Philippa Te Hira-Matatia
How does Samoa compare to other countries?
Where do you want to explore next?
Women in Leadership
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT AS OF 2020
10%
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY POSITIONS AS OF 2020
17%
Has a Woman Ever Been Head of State or Head of Government?
Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, 2021- Present
HAS A WOMAN EVER BEEN SPORTS MINISTER?
Unknown
Title IX Timeline
1962
Samoa gained independence from New Zealand on January 1.
1991
Women gained the right to vote (full suffrage).
1992
Samoa ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
1996
Ildai Suaniu became the first woman to represent Samoa at the Olympics.
2004
Meira Vaa became the first woman to represent Samoa at the Paralympics.
2008
Ele Opeloge became the first woman from Samoa to win an Olympic medal (silver - weightlifting).
2021
Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa became the first female Prime Minister of Samoa.
Women in the olympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
1
-
4
-
6
-
1
Women in the Paralympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
1
-
2
-
0
Elite Sports Participation
First Year Women Participated In The Olympics
1996
Year Women’s Participation In Olympics Was Equal To Men’s
As of 2020, women's participation was still less than men's.
First Time A Woman Won An Olympic Medal
Ele Opeloge: 2008, Weightlifting (Silver)
First Year Women Participated In The Paralympics
2004
Year Women’s Participation In Paralympics Was Equal To Men’s
2004
First Time A Woman Won A Paralympic Medal
The first woman could be you!
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1998
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
FIFA is committed to the growth and development of women’s football around the globe.
For More Information
FIBA
Fédération Internationale de Basketball
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1993
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Samoa National Basketball Association partnered with FIBA to launch Women Ballers, an initiative aimed to increase female talent, leadership skills, and awareness of violence against women and girls.
Increasing the participation of women in basketball at all levels was named as one of FIBA’s eight strategic objectives (2019- 2027) and one of FIBA’s three strategic priorities (2019-2023).
For More Information
LOCAL
Sports
Initiatives
Major Regional Or Country Sport Initiatives
In 2019, the Australian Government launched the Pacific Women’s Sports Leadership Program, a program that brings together women in sports leadership positions from all over the Pacific.
The Samoa Women in Sports Commission advocates for female sporting opportunities while providing leadership and development training.
Community Organizations That Have Signed The Brighton + Helsinki Declaration
