White Ribbon Week to end violence against women

Women’s advocate, New Zealander Jude Simpson is in the Cook Islands as part of the run up to the international day to eliminate violence against women and children also known as “White Ribbon day.” Her attendance here is made possible by the Pacific Police Domestic violence programme in partnership with the Cook Islands Police and Punanga Tauturu Inc. and begins on Wednesday 25 November with the Universal theme of ‘Commit, act and demand – we can end violence against Women’
Simpson has an interesting background as a writer who wrote a biographical account of her life as an abused child and of her involvement in the gang culture and later in abusive relationships with men. However, she managed to turn her life around and got out of that cycle to emerge a much stronger person.
Simpson came to the attention of the Presbyterian Support Northern which is a large national organisation with its head office in Auckland and they were impressed with her story of being able to turn her life around despite her terrible experiences.
The organisation felt that her story was one of hope and could be used to help others do the same and created a position for her to enable her to spread a message of hope. Simpson provides training for the Departments of Child Youth and Family, the Police, non government organizations, schools, health and anyone dealing with people.
Simpson says the problem is only the tip of the iceberg but that the Cook Islands at least, does not face the gang problems of New Zealand where troubled children and youth are lured to the life of gangs as an escape from broken homes.
Her presentations and workshops are educational and have a point of difference as many social workers do not come from such backgrounds and so have difficulty in understanding how others may come to be in such predicaments. Those she helps can relate to her experiences and see that she has turned her life around, they say they can do the same.
Simpson came to the attention of PTI and CI Police thru Mike Oxnam of the NZ Police who is currently on a 3 month assignment with the Cook Islands Police.
Jude presented her story to the Cabinet and also with the Police Officers. Kairangi Samuela of Punanga Tauturu says that with our small population and the way that our community looks down on women who have been victims of violence – women are reluctant to go public with their stories so we are glad to have Jude here who is able to give first hand her experiences. Simpson says that no matter where the violence occurs whether its in Rarotonga or overseas, all women and children suffer the same effects and its impacts..

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