Three individuals and two organisations were recently named recipients of Samoa's 2025 Human Rights Champion Awards.
Presented during Human Rights Day celebrations, award categories included Young People's Human Rights Champion, Business and Human Rights Champion, Community Human Rights Champion, Media and Creative Arts Human Rights Champion, and the Komesina o Sulufaiga Award.
The Young People's Human Rights Champion was awarded to Luna-Rossa Lomitusi-Ape, a 23-year-old renewable energy engineer from Manase and Sasina in Savai'i.
Ms Lomitusi-Ape is the founder of Atamai Siosiomaga and Vice President of the Samoa Women Association Growers.
She is also a founding member of Pollinate Samoa, a beekeeper, a youth and climate leader, and Youth Coordinator for Samoa-COP 2024-2025.
Ms Lomitusi-Ape said her work focuses on women's empowerment and skills development.
"I love working with the Samoa Women Association Growers because a lot of the programs they do are dedicated to empowering women to not only be independent but be their own boss," she said.
"One of my favourite workshops they do is the Siamu Festival... we worked with a group of women there and we were teaching them to take the fruit and vegetables around them and turn them from a primary product (the fruit) to a secondary product like jam and sauces."
The Business and Human Rights Champion award was presented to Women in Business Development Inc.
Women in Business Development Inc is an organic supplier connecting local farmers with international markets.
The organisation operates the Farm-to-Table Youth Initiative, which has trained more than 100 students, and runs an organic market.
It also delivers regional training focused on women's economic empowerment and provides micro-financing to local entrepreneurs.
The Community Human Rights Champion award was presented to GOSHEN TRUST.
GOSHEN TRUST is a mental health service founded in 2009 in Moamoa, Upolu, by Mr Savea Tutogi To'o Arundel.
The organisation provides free services including long-term assisted living, rehabilitation, and skills training.
The Media and Creative Arts Human Rights Champion award was awarded posthumously to Mr Rudy Bartley.
Mr Bartley was the founder of WT Media and a former President of the Journalism Association of Samoa.
He produced "O lau Palota o lou Leo" and served on the Pacific Islands News Association subcommittee on anti-corruption.
He was also a public advocate against the reinstatement of Samoa's criminal libel and defamation laws.
The award was accepted on his behalf by his mother, Margaret Bartley.
The Komesina o Sulufaiga Award was presented to Tiara Tuulua, a 39-year-old senior registered nurse and midwife from Leusoali'i, Saleapaga and Saanapu.
A member of the Samoa Nurses Association and twice Samoan Person of the Year, Ms Tuulua works at the Ministry of Health and has served in nursing for nearly two decades.
She is also a member of Sexual Introduction Health, the Samoa Fa'afafine Association, a former Miss Samoa Fa'afafine and a member of Pacific Sexual Reproductive Health.
Ms Tuulua reflected on his career in public service.
"Ive been serving Samoa for almost 18 years now," she said.
"I chose nursing because thats what my dad wanted and I thank god because I think God was wehispering to my dad to choose this career for me.
"Ever since I graduated to become an RN I was very happy because I was able to serve my family."
The Human Rights Champion Awards recognise contributions that promote and protect human rights in Samoa.
Recipients are acknowledged for supporting resilient economies, social inclusion, equality, and the protection of social, economic, political and cultural rights.
