Press Release from Cook Islands National Council of Women
Te Toka Ti’avā o te Baseleia – The Cornerstone of the Nation
On Sunday, 8 March, marking International Women’s Day, the closing ceremony of the conference and Biennial Meeting of the Cook Islands National Council of Women (CINCW) will be held.
The closing will reflect on the achievements of the CINCW in its work to empower women and their families in governance, social and economic development, as well as cultural, religious and environmental projects and advocacy activities.
Such activities have included supporting women leaders for upcoming local government elections, and sensitising men and families on the role of women in decision making. CINCW has supported women in business through a revolving credit fund for handicrafts and business mentoring. Water security and coastal zone rehabilitation activities have been supported to help communities adapt to climate change in Pa Enua.
CINCW has also played a key role in nationwide research into gender based violence, produced ‘The Island Night’ short film, and bringing the NGO perspective to government reports and gender mainstreaming. The organisation has also represented women who have been discriminated against using human rights conventions.
“It has been a very busy and productive two years” noted CINCW President Vaine Wichman, “we have achieved a lot but we would like to expand some of our ‘pilot projects’ to more areas in the Pa Enua”.
“Looking forward to the next two years, we will be using the results of recently completed research by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to contribute to government policies and projects for the economic empowerment of women”.
“We will be supporting the roll out of policies and programmes developed to reduce and prevent gender based violence. And of course we will continue to work alongside MINTAFF in implementing the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.”
