The death of Jeanine Tuivaiki is being investigated as a possible homicide. An inquest into Tuivaiki’s death has been scheduled for today at the District Court according to Police Media Officer Maotaoalii Kaioneta Kitiona. The 20-year-old fa’afafine woman was found dead in a Catholic church hall a few blocks inland from the main commercial area of downtown Apia in June. She has been farewelled at a funeral held at the Si’usega Catholic Church in Apia. Tuivaiki’s death was thrust into the media spotlight after The Samoa Observer newspaper published a degrading front page photo of her alongside a disrespectful story regarding her death. Causing outrage both locally and internationally, the newspaper’s Editor in Chief eventually issued an apology for the publication of the story however The Office of the Ombudsman says the article was a “fundamental breach of human rights”. “The Observer did not afford Jeanine, and the family family, respect when it published the photo and printed the article on the front page of the Sunday Samoan. It showed a callous disregard for Jeanine as a human being. It denied Jeanine’s right to inherent dignity and took away Jeanine’s humanity. The Office strongly endorses the Samoa Fa’afafine Association’s comment that we all have a responsibility to incorporate our fa’asamoa in all that we do. This sentiment reflects a central theme of human rights which is that we should respect the rights of others without discrimination.” The Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma, also highlighted the misgendering of Tuivaiki and stated “The article also failed to afford Jeanine and the fa’afafine community respect when it referred to Jeanine as a man when the term fa’afafine is widely recognised in the Samoan community Terminology can have a profound impact on a person’s identity, self-worth and inherent dignity. “The use of inclusive and accepted terminology empowers individuals. Terminology that describes such intrinsic parts of a person’s identity or characteristics carries a heavy weight and significance. This is particularly so for groups that have been stigmatised in their community.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 21st July 2016 - 10:17am