Dear Editor, The recent sentencing of Yawea Teophilo to 14 years in prison for 47 charges of rape (and other charges) has shocked our community. Learning about what these young girls had to go through is heart breaking and reminds us of the urgent need to protect our women and children, and support survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

As president of the Punanga Turuturu Itivaine Inc. (PTI), formerly known as Punanga Tauturu Inc, I applaud the calls from the Cook Islands National Council of Women and other leaders for more community vigilance and parental responsibility. These are critical steps, and PTI is determined to go further. We are addressing the gaps in our systems that allow these terrible crimes to happen.

This year, PTI is focusing on three key actions to combat GBV and protect our women and children:

1. Reviewing Laws: We are looking at our current laws to find where they fall short in protecting survivors of GBV. Stronger and clearer laws are essential to deter offenders and ensure survivors get the justice they deserve. This review will help make sure our laws meet the real needs of survivors, prioritise their safety, and include harsher sentences.

2. Researching GBV cases to tackle GBV effectively: We need to understand the problem better. PTI is researching GBV cases to find out what causes these crimes and where support systems are lacking. This information will help us create better policies and programmes for prevention and support.

3. Raising Awareness: Preventing abuse starts with education. PTI will run community awareness campaigns to help children, parents, caregivers, and the community recognise signs of abuse, understand how to report it, and learn ways to prevent it. By raising awareness can empower our people and the community to take action.

The recent conviction shows a troubling reality: sexual violence and child abuse are still happening in our society. The “Cook Islands Family Health and Safety Survey – Toku Akapuanga E Te Maroiroi, My Shelter and Strength” found that over 8 per cent of women experienced sexual abuse in childhood. And that’s just the reported cases. There are many others that are just too scared to speak out.

Justice for survivors is about more than just court decisions. It means giving survivors the support they need to heal and rebuild their lives. It means creating a community where abuse is not tolerated, and every child grows up feeling safe and secure.

At PTI, we know that protecting children and combating GBV is not the work of a few, in order for this to be successful, we need everyone to work on this together. PTI has met with the Police, TMO (Health ministry), INTAFF (Ministry of Internal Affairs), as well as with other NGOs, all of whom are ready to tackle this issue head-on.

Together with our community, we can build a safer, more compassionate Cook Islands.

If you want to get involved, please contact Punanga Turuturu Itivaine on 21133. Let’s stand together to protect our women and children.

Sincerely,

Eileen Story

President of Punanga Turuturu Itivaine (PTI)

Note – The Punanga Turuturu Itivaine is dedicated to providing a supportive environment for women who have suffered domestic violence and rape, and helping to empower women.