Amendment for women doesn’t make it out of committee

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Constitutional Convention Committee has voted not to allow the amendment for women to be submitted for inclusion into the preamble of the Constitution.

Lt. Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale, who is also the chair of the Committee, voted yes to allow the amendment of the bill — along with Tapa'au Dr Dan Aga.

Prior to the vote, Nerisa Ve'e took the floor last week Thursday and voiced her disagreement with the proposed amendment, because it should include all marginalized communities, not just ‘women’.

Ms. Ve’e is a Concon member of the Committee from the Youth. She is a graduate of Tafuna High School and is from Fitiuta, Manu'a.

"I'm in absolute agreement that the constitution should be inclusive and equal to all marginalized communities, women, LGBTQ, the disabled, and other minorities out there.

"Also there is no law that prohibits women from equal opportunity for holding a matai title or running for office”, but there was a mention of a few bans that do exist in other villages.

“There are some things said that reveal why gender inequality and discrimination still exist in our community to this day.

“It seems like the solution to gender inequality and discrimination is deeper than what can be written and voted on by a Government institution and the solution is more of within a person, changing and adapting their mindset,” she said.

“It's more of being socially aware and recognizing that these issues do exist and need to be addressed.

“It is simply just us having to be an ally for these communities and for the people who are being discriminated against or feel they don't have a voice.

“But just because the solution to these issues seems more on a personal level, it does not mean it shouldn't be reflected in the Constitution or the laws.

"At some point when we realize that cultural practices and tradition go against human rights, inequality, inclusivity — and the Constitution is made by our people for our people — then, maybe, we need to take a step back and reevaluate these practices and the Constitution,” Ve’e said.

She said the proposed preamble to be included in the Constitution may be a bit "extreme" or disregards other marginalized communities, but there are some things that could be done in the Constitution to make all identities feel included and represented.

According to the review, the American Samoa Constitution does not state as a value the people's commitment to women's inclusion in security and justice.

The general memorandum of the resumption of the constitutional review committee meeting stated the proposed amendment would add such a statement to the preamble with the intention of raising and improving the status of women in American Samoa.