Uniting to overcome domestic violence
The Red Cross and Rotaianga are joining forces to reduce domestic violence

Paul Lynch, local lawyer, believes that, “There’s not a house or home in the Cook Islands that’s not impacted by something that relates to domestic violence,” so as an attempt to reduce those numbers he will be supporting the Rotaianga Men’s Support Centre Domestic Violence Workshop being held this Friday 16th at the AOG Hall, Takuvaine.
The Rotaianga Men’s Support Centre, which opened its doors to the public this year, is working in conjunction with the Cook Islands Red Cross to facilitate the national workshop which will aim to focus on support for predominantly men with issues arising from domestic violence so that they can better manage themselves within society.
The workshop will be hosting a range of speakers from the community discussing and raising issues that surround domestic violence including key note speaker John Robinson of the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme, PPDVP, a joint initiative of NZ Police and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PCIP) organization, that will offer advice and operational support on domestic violence. Cook Islands Police Senior Sergeant Rebecca Ellis will also be present offering a snapshot into the statistics of domestic Violence within the Cook Islands, “This will be a really good indicator for us to see where we are at the moment, is it good? Is it bad? Are we improving? Until we have a view of where we are then we can see the causes and find appropriate solutions to them,” say Lynch.
The workshop will be a great opportunity to collate a declaration in which groups can offer ideas on these issues that each can be held accountable to help reduce domestic violence, “Lets declare that that’s what we want to be actively done,” said Lynch, “so that in a year’s time, we can see what have we done to live up to it. It’s a brilliant idea.”
Lynch says that everyone is invited, “We haven’t said no to anyone although it may be a men’s workshop it’s not exclusive, everyone’s got value to add.”
For those that are interested in attending, the all day workshop will be held this Friday 16th at the AOG Hall, Takuvaine.
Contact Bob Kimiangatau on 74-687 or Danny Vakapora to RSVP. -Maria Tanner

Herald Issue 554 09 March
- Norm exposes Trio of Doom
- Briefs from PM’s media conference Tuesday
- Tourism Industry ponders $5 million draft strategy
- Norman George resigns from Cook Islands Party
- Letter of Resignation from CIP
- Norman selfish says Prime Minister