A peaceful march, ‘Walk4 Aro’a’, to show that love, peace and safety, starts in the home, starts with parents and education, will be held today at 4pm from the Constitution Park in town (opposite the Avarua Catholic church).

The march is in response to the distressing case involving two young girls who suffered nine years of abuse, which has deeply affected the community. Fifty-seven-year-old Yawea Teophilo, labelled a paedophile, was handed a 14-year sentence this month, for 47 charges of rape, indecent assault, inducing indecent acts, sodomy and attempted rape on two children below the age of 14 between 2010 and 2019 in Rarotonga.

Cook Islands News columnist Thomas Tarurongo Wynne, one of the organisers, highlighted this matter in his column last Saturday, and a number of people reached out to him asking what could be done.

“I said we should march and a number of people, Julia Evans, Gina Tavioni and Chiavanni Le’Mon responded. They have been on the ground, organising with local NGOs,” Wynne said.

“We have had enough of this … mums, dads and families. This is not a protest; it is a call to protect our most vulnerable.

“We are walking for something, not so much against something.

“We are all united as Cook Islanders in our stand against this evil. That’s why it’s a march for aro’a, a march for love, because love always wins and there is no greater love than laying our lives down for others.”

Te Punanga Turuturu Itivaine (PTI), the women’s support centre, supports the walk as an avenue for advocating around gender-based violence, standing in solidarity for all victims.

Yesterday, PTI members joined preparations at “Te Tuki Tupuna” in Atupa next to Gallery Tavioni, to paint and design banners, t-shirts, and signs.

PTI sponsored paint for the t-shirts, while others contributed additional supplies. Members gathered to raise awareness and call for justice.

The Cook Islands Child Welfare Association is proud to support the initiative as a peaceful way to express the importance of standing up against family violence of any kind.

“As the key organisation representing child welfare in the Cook Islands, we have the opportunity to set an example to children, parents and caregivers that gender-based violence, sexual abuse and controlling behaviour is not acceptable,” said a Child Welfare Association member.