Faʻatino Masunu Utumapu
Faʻatino Mataafa Utumapu | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982 (age 41–42) |
| Alma mater | Wesley College, Manurewa High School |
| Awards | Pasifika Award (2017) |
Faʻatino Mataafa Utumapu (born 1982) is a disability rights activist from Samoa.
Background[edit]
Utumapu, the daughter of Reverend Taito Masunu and Senerita Utumapu of Tuanaʻi, grew up in Safotu, on the island of Savaiʻi. She attended Wesley College (in Apia) and Manurewa High School.[1]
Career[edit]
In 2014, her advocacy around the value of identifying people with disabilities led to Samoa being the first Pacific country to collect information on disability. As a result, disability was included in the country's 2014 Demographic and Health Survey and 2016 National Census.[2][3] In 2016 Utumapu also led the registration of people with disabilities during the national elections in Samoa, the first time the category had been included during an election.[2]
Utumapu's advocacy work has also supported the creation of the Wheelchair Users Association of Samoa and Samoa Association of the Deaf.[2]
Utumapu was selected as one of ten disability leaders in the Pacific region to facilitate in the regional implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.[2] She is the Co-chair for the Pacific committee of youth with disabilities, a member of the Pacific Disability Forum's Resource Team.[4]
Utumapu currently works with Nuanua O Le Alofa, an advocacy organisation for persons with disabilities in Samoa, and represented the organisation at the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York.[5]
As a female matai, she is considered a community leader.[2] She is also an executive member of the Samoa Umbrella for Non Governmental Organisations.[1]
Awards[edit]
In 2017 Mataafa received the Pacific Disability Forum's Pasifika Award.[6] In January 2021 she was announced as one of the Samoa Observer's "people of 2020".[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Ale, Pai Mulitalo. "Mataafa Faatino Utumapu - The rights of people with disabilities". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Mataafa Faatino Utumapu". Pacific Community. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ "Censuses and Surveys using the WG Questions". Washington Group on disability statistics. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ "Recognise my capacity". Pacific Disability Forum. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ "Flying Samoa's flag in New York". Samoa Observer. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ Taotua, Deidre (25 February 2017). "Award honour for top Samoan". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ Marc Membrere (1 January 2021). "PEOPLE OF 2020: Mata'afa Fa'atino Utumapu". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 October 2021.