Report - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

– Cultural impacts – my mo<strong>the</strong>r was blamed for leaving <strong>the</strong> relationship;
– Freedom from violence against women – domestic violence;
– Security and privacy;
– Safe environment.
Sources - Constitution (human rights clause); Cook Islands Land Act 1915; Crimes Act - recognises
assault but doesn’t specify vulnerable groups <strong>of</strong> women; Code <strong>of</strong> civil procedure; As New Zealand
ratified CEDAW, Cook Islands is also deemed to have ratified; Ratified CRC in its own right.
Overriding principles - Non–discrimination, gender equality and rule <strong>of</strong> law.
Guarantees - Constitution – but it is not implemented; CRC, CEDAW; PTI; budget for social services
- but this is minimal; in <strong>the</strong> 1997 economic crisis social services allocations was cut, even though at
that time <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>the</strong> most important for vulnerable groups.
Obstacles - Bad law, inadequate enforcement <strong>of</strong> law; no access to justice; lack <strong>of</strong> resource allocation
for social services; breakdown <strong>of</strong> extended family; lack <strong>of</strong> confidentiality – women will not seek help
because <strong>the</strong> ‘coconut wireless’ is very effective in Cook Islands; cash economy - rental housing costs
are very high (i.e. difficult to get for a house for less than $150/week), which is difficult to afford on
low wages; some low income public housing is available, but commonly <strong>the</strong> public <strong>of</strong>ficials live in
<strong>the</strong>m.
Victims - Wife; children
Losses - Loss <strong>of</strong> job; rental; loss <strong>of</strong> status – not seen as just a woman but as a battered woman; insecurity
– don’t know when <strong>the</strong> husband might return; which creates stress; loss <strong>of</strong> freedom <strong>of</strong> movement –
my mo<strong>the</strong>r didn’t want to return to <strong>the</strong> outer island but she had no choice. She wasn’t able to live
on <strong>the</strong> main island because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> threat posed by him being <strong>the</strong>re Violator; husband; extended family
who told her to find her own place; state – judiciary, police, social services – don’t recognise rights
<strong>of</strong> women to adequate housing.
Actions/Interventions –
- Change and improve laws to recognize women’s vulnerability – women should be given access
to housing in crisis situations;
- Media advocacy, education and awareness;
- Enforcement - legal literacy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> police – because police are also likely to be perpetrators <strong>of</strong> violence
too;
- Parallel reporting to CEDAW (Cook Islands has not yet reported to CEDAW);
- A gender sensitive women’s minister. The Cook Islands has had four coalition governments in <strong>the</strong>
last five years. The first minister was a woman and tried to push CEDAW but she has been replaced
154 WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO ADEQUATE HOUSEING AND LAND