5 Samoans Receive 2025 Human Rights Champion Awards

By Esther Yvonne Atonio/

Editors Note: A correction to the citation for the The Komesina o Sulufaiga Award winner. Tiara Tuula was not the President but a member of the Samoa Nurses Association in 2009. He is also a member of the Sexual Introduction and a member of the Pacific Sexual Reproductive Health.

Apia, Samoa – 11 December 2025 – Three individuals and two local organizations were recipients of the 2025 Human Rights Champion Awards in recognition of their services and contribution to promoting and protecting human rights in Samoa.

The awards were the highlight of the 2025 Human Rights Day celebrations held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel yesterday, 10 December.

The awards are:
 * The Young People’s Human Rights Champion
* Business and Human Rights Champion
* Community Human Rights Champion
* Media & Creative Arts Human Rights Champion
* Komesina o Sulufaiga Award

The Young People’s Human Rights Champion was awarded to Miss Luna-Rossa Lomitusi-Ape, a 23-year-old renewable energy engineer from Manase & Sasina, Savaii.

She is also the founder of Atamai Siosiomaga, Vice President of the Samoa Women Association Growers, founding member of Pollinate Samoa, a Beekeeper, Youth and Climate Leader, and Youth Coordinator for Samoa-COP 2024-2025.

The Business and Human Rights Champion was awarded to Women in Business Development Inc (WIBDI).

WIBDI is an organic supplier that connects local farmers to international brands. They run the Farm-to-Table Youth Initiative, which has trained over 100 students and operate an organic market. WIBDI also serves as a local and regional trainer, focusing on women’s economic empowerment and providing micro-financing to local entrepreneurs.

The Community Human Rights Champion was awarded to GOSHEN TRUST, a mental health services organization founded in 2009 in Moamoa, Upolu, by Savea Tutogi To’o Arundel. It provides free social services, including long-term assisted living, rehabilitation, and skills training to support patient

The Media and Creative Arts Human Rights Champion was awarded to the late Rudy Bartley founder of WT Media and former president of JAWS.

The late Rudy Bartley’s mother accepting the award from Maiava Iosefa.

He produced “O lau Palota o lou Leo” and led the Pacific Islands News Association’s Subcommittee on Anti-Corruption. He actively spoke out against the reinstatement of Samoa’s Criminal Libel & Defamation law.

The Komesina o Sulufaiga Award was given to Tiara Tuulua, a 39-year-old from Leusoali’i, Saleapaga & Saanapu, who is a senior registered nurse at the Ministry of Health and a midwife.

He was member of the Samoa Nurses Association, recognized twice as Person of the Year in Samoa, and is a member of the Sexual Introductions Health, Samoa Fa’afafine Association, and a former Miss Samoa Fa’afafine and a member of the Pacific Sexual Reproductive Health.

The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in promoting and protecting human rights in Samoa. Their work must contribute to:

• Resilient economies that support recovery and prosperity and protects peoples social, economic, political and cultural rights.
• Resilient societies that empower people and promote equality and non-discrimination, participation and inclusion.

Each winner had the opportunity to speak on what they do and expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the awards they received.