This year’s White Ribbon Day violence against women campaign also included the promotion of ‘A violence-free Cook Islands’, aiming to flip the script and change the narrative to celebrate peace, saying no to violence, domestic abuse, and child abuse and exploitation.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (INTAFF) and the Office of the Ombudsman hosted a White Ribbon Day “violence-free Cook Islands” concert that featured world class father-and-son DJs, New Zealand-based Cook Islander Kalib Strickland aka DJ K-Swizz and his father Jacob Strickland aka DJ Reminise.

The free family concert, held to raise awareness about the ongoing issue of violence within the homes and community, drew a strong audience of 500 people, including many men who accompanied their families to the alcohol-free event.

Secretary of Internal Affairs, Anne Herman said this year they focused on the direction of “changing the story” to attract young men and fathers to attend the event.

Herman said they wanted to deliver a wider message to the community “that violence anywhere in our community is not acceptable”.

Featuring the father and son DJs was to send out a message to the community about respectful relationships and communications between sons and fathers and a focus on the good qualities boys and men can demonstrate if they are shown and raised in a good, healthy family environment, she said.

“To try and break the generational cycle of violence,” Herman said. “To encourage dads, parents and caregivers to speak to their children about courteous relationships to communicate well and decrease the amount of family violence in our community.”

The organisers worked with Vodafone Cook Islands, who sponsored the live-stream of the concert, to reach out to Cook Islanders overseas “to share our good vibes, high spirits and the good wholesome event”.

Statistics show that during the festive period, reports of domestic violence are on the increase, says Herman.

She said the White Ribbon concert was also meant to kick off the Christmas season with positive vibes, reminding families and communities that violence is not the answer.

In her keynote speech, Police Senior Sergeant Rebecca Hosking-Ellis said police statistics show that 2021 was a particularly bad year with 344 domestic incidents reported, and almost a quarter of those incidents involved physical violence.

Hosking-Ellis said there is a tendency for the public to rely on police to settle arguments and conflict within their families when most of these disputes could be resolved responsibly by their own family members.

“Police deal with the complaints seriously in order to help keep the peace and to prevent escalation,” she said.

“Police cannot deal with domestic violence alone, they need assistance from family members, friends, INTAFF, Te Marae Ora and the community support groups like Punanga Tauturu Inc.”

She said there is also a need to provide structures of support.

“Preventative action needs more action than just talk.”

Police do have tools at their disposal but once the line is crossed, instead of peaceful resolutions, law enforcement and court action are instigated which include home visits, police safety orders, and protection orders (ordered by the court).

Hosking-Ellis said the no drop policy is applied in cases of physical violence.

“Deep seated problems within families can be complicated by many factors so it will take some difficult decisions to recognise issues, communicating the issues that need to be addressed, and providing the general support to resolve them.”

Domestic violence impacts people in every town, in every country across the world.

To conclude her message, Hosking-Ellis posed the question: “Who will be the male champions in the Cook Islands that can take the lead for our White Ribbon Campaign?”

The event closed with a magnificent fireworks display.

Herman would like to thank everyone who attended the event, all the staff involved, the stall vendors, and the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNPFA).