Forgotten World (174): Samoa
Samoa is a group of nine South Pacific islands – two large and seven very small – with one of the smallest national populations in the world (just 180,000). The islands became independent of New Zealand in 1982 and the Human Rights Protection Party has been in power ever since. Samoa has seen substantial economic, social and public sector reforms with the promotion of women’s rights. The challenge, however, is to create sufficient employment for the young labour market.
Its deeply conservative and devoutly Christian society centres around the extended family, which is headed by an elected chief who directs the family’s social, economic and political affairs, and the church, which is a focus of recreational and social life