Social Policy Services is responsible for coordinating, ensuring, implementing with relevant key stakeholders right across Government Agencies; TMO, CI Police, MOE, MOJ, Ombudsman Office, Crown Law and Corrective Services, and Civil Society, Non Government Organisation and Private Sector; CINCW, CINDC, CICWA, CIFWA, CINYC, CI Chamber of Commerce,Te Vaerua, Te Kainga and Te Are Pa Metua. Continually reviewing these policies to adapt to the needs of the following groups : Children, Youth, Persons with Disability, the Elderly and Gender equality.

Each policy has a number of projects, deliverables and action plans attached to it, and is funded by both Government and Donor partners. To successfully implement policies at the national level, the team needs to work closely with relevant key stakeholders Government Agencies, Civil Society, Non Government Organisation and Private Sector as well as with international consultants and advisors. 

OUR POLICIES

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The Social Policy Business Unit comprises of:

  1. Manager
  2. National Children’s Policy Coordinator. NGO stakeholders are Cook Islands Child Welfare and Punanga Tauturu.
  3. National Youth Coordinator. NGO stakeholders are CINYC, Religious youth groups, CIFWA, Youth Hub, Rotaract.
  4. National Disability Coordinator. NGO stakeholders are, CINDC, Creative Centre, Te Vaerua, Te Kainga and Are Pa Metua.
  5. National Gender Coordinator. NGO stakeholders are CINCW, Punanga Tauturu Inc, CIFWA and Women & Girls disability

CHILDREN

Te Pito Manava o te Anau – Cook Islands National Policy Framework for our Children 2017 – 2021 sets out the Government’s key commitments to children up to the age of 18 years.  It is rooted in the determination to make the Cook Islands a great place in which to be a child. The policy framework is grounded in the Cook Islands Culture and also the country’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which was ratified by the Cook Islands Government in 1997.

The Children’s coordinator’s role is to ensure that Government’s national policy for children is established, implemented/monitored and reviewed, particularly promotion and protection of the rights of children; parents and families are supported so that there is a strong family oriented community where children are supported to achieve their maximum potential now and in the future. For more information contact 29370 ext 714.

YOUTH

The Youth coordinator’s role is to coordinate, support and provide policy and technical expertise and advice regarding the National Youth Policy. This encourages youth, ages 15 – 24 years to be productive and contributing members of society. The current Youth Policy 2015 – 2020 is in review phase and the development of the policy will be confirmed in the near future.  For more information contact 29370 ext 713.

DISABILITY

The Cook Islands journey to address the Rights of Persons with Disability has been a progressive one guided by the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) and the Pacific Framework for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the country’s National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) and it’s applicability to the disability issue over the years.

The Disability coordinator’s role is to coordinate, support, promote and provide technical, expertise and advice regarding the rights of persons with disabilities. For more information contact 29370 ext 718.

GENDER

The Cook Islands Government has a long and proud history of promoting gender equality. The Cook Islands Constitution was adopted in 1964, and guarantees equal rights to all citizens, regardless of sex. On the International stage the Cook Islands
 became a party to the Convention of the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) IN 1985, the Cook Islands developed the first ever National Policy on Women. The goal then was to advance gender equality, enhance women’s empowerment in all sectors, and all at all levels of development and decision making.

The spirit of the Policy was the protection and advancement or our most vulnerable citizens, women and girls, so that they may fully participate and engage in our national development, and enjoy the highest quality of life. National Policy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and ACTION PLAN 2019 – 2024.

The Gender coordinator’s role is to ensure that Government’s national policy for gender is established, implemented, monitored and reviewed. Provide technical advice and expertise in the integration of gender perspectives across government national priorities and policies that align with international Conventions, Action Plans and National Policy
on Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment. 

For more information contact 29370 ext 720.