Report will be a Pacific first

The Cook Islands will be the first Pacific nation to report to the United Nations on the disabled.
In Rarotonga to help the Ministry of Internal Affairs finalise the “Country report on persons with disabilities” is Filipo Masaurua from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The country report was started early in February 2011 and is in its final stages. It is to go to Cabinet about the middle of April 2011 for approval and must reach the United Nations (UN) by 8 May 2011.
Once approved by Cabinet, it can be released to the public.
Filipo is being assisted by Internal Affairs Secretary Bredina Drollet and the Director of the Disability Division Noo Numanga.
In reporting to the UN, the Cook Islands report will create a unique historic milestone in that it is the first from the Pacific region and the Cook Islands is not even a member of the UN. Incidentally, the Cook Islands along with Vanuatu are the only Pacific nations to ratify the UN Convention on the Disabled. The Cook Islands is the only Pacific country to have specific disability provisions in legislation.
Filipo who has visited Rarotonga numerous times, will be departing on Saturday.

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