Transcript
The 2014 Family Health and Safety Survey found violence against women and children is ingrained in Cook Islands society and there are concerns that could still be the case. The Cook Islands police reported 170 cases of domestic violence last year, just a small drop from the 185 cases reported the previous year.There was plenty of feedback on social media when the police published the latest statistics on its Facebook page.
"Police need to appoint more qualified and dedicated officers in this area and work in partnership with other support agencies."
"Wrist slapping must stop! Conviction must be upheld to its highest regard or else domestic violence will continue."
The Punanga Tauturu Women's Counselling Centre has been working to eliminate violence against women for over 20 years. Co-ordinator Rebeka Buchanan says persistent perpetrators need help too.
"What I'm finding, I guess they [govt] haven't really looked at it, but we've talked about it where the proper assessment of high risk perpetrators. The ones that are happening first time, those ones can come to counselling, but there are others that keep repeating, those are the ones that I'm talking about that need a lot more support. Maybe there is the mental health issues, but we're not dealing with those issues."
Ms Buchanan says there are more cases of domestic violence than police can deal with, leaving victims without the support need.
"What I see is the gap that we're allowing to get bigger and bigger and bigger and by not dealing with domestic violence issues quickly and early, we're letting these people take on a lot more that they can manage."
Domestic violence co-ordinator Sergeant Sharon Kareroa says more open communication between family members would help nip abuse in the bud.
"Love each other, but the messages to the public are consistent with the activities of offending. Report the matter in the first instance and speaking about abuse and gender based violence must be a priority."
Ms Buchanan says work and financial pressures often add to the problem.
"The domestic violence is way too high and I'm finding it's not just the domestic violence we're talking about. It's a whole lot of things. It's the inability to manage or cope with what's going on and some of that is nothing to do with their relationship. The stress from work comes home."
The Family Protection and Support Act came into force in December and its "no drop" provision means victims can't withdraw a complaint even if they're under pressure from loved ones to do so. Sergeant Kareroa says once an incident of domestic violence is known to police it has to go to court.
"When we prepare the file that goes to court and court will act on that. So the 'no drop' policy is when an incident is reported to the police say domestic violence incident we do not encourage our victims to drop their incidents, so they have to do that at court."
The police are now looking into why the number of cases of domestic violence increased in the second half of last year.
