NZ paddlers support anti-violence campaign

A Vaka Eiva paddling team has backed a 16-day event against gender violence.

The orange shade of the New Zealand-based open mixed team, Orakei Water Sports, coincidentally matches the theme for the anti-violence campaign that began on November 25, which is ‘Orange the world’.

Vaka Eiva co-ordinator Victoria Dearlove has contributed to the campaign by taking time out from her busy schedule and putting up orange balloons and getting teams to pitch in.

“We have a couple of orange crews and one of the main ones is the Orakei Water Sports team. Their uniform is orange as it is, so they decided to get involved in raising awareness about gender violence being not okay”, said Dearlove.

The orange balloons attract a lot of questions from the public said Dearlove, and she is glad to be able to help by raising awareness of the issue.

Counsellor at Punanga Tauturu, Rebeka Buchanan said other good samaritans have also jumped on board.

“National Disability Council co-ordinator Pat Farr and Grete Marsters have offered to ‘paint Rarotonga orange,’ with the support of CITC Management who kindly donated orange balloons and orange ribbons towards our fundraising at the Punanga Nui Market on November 23,” she said.

“We raised $117 at the markets through donations. Now we will be placing orange boxes at ANZ, Westpac and BCI and they will be there till December 10. We are very grateful to the banks for letting us place the boxes on the premises,” said Buchanan.

Buchanan says that although the international calendar highlights only the 16 days, in reality, the Elimination of Violence against Women has to be high on the priority list in the Cook Islands and the work to eliminate this huge problem has to be ongoing and needs community support.

“The challenge is out there and we need to lend a supporting hand to someone who is having difficulties dealing with their everyday problems, be it alcohol, or just needing someone to talk to.”

“We all know someone who needs that kind of help. Your support, guidance and positive reinforcement to that person will make a difference to our families,” said Buchanan.

The 16 days of activism against gender violence is an international campaign that signifies that violence against women is a violation of human rights.

It originated in 1991 and links International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 and International Human Rights Day on December 10.

In a United Nations global conference, former secretary general Kofi Annan said that violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation.

“It is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace.”