Cook Islands CEDAW delegation in-person: L-R Piakura Passfield (Crown Law Office), Nina Neubauer (INTAFF), Grace Chynoweth-Maurangi (Head of Delegation and Secretary for INTAFF), Sandrina Thondoo (MFAI) and Mereina Herman (INTAFF). INTAFF/26101316
Cook Islands progress in advancing the rights and wellbeing of women and girls was acknowledged during its “constructive dialogue” with the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
The Committee held a dialogue on the Cook Islands’ fourth and fifth periodic reports on October 7 in Geneva.
Secretary of Internal Affairs Grace Chynoweth-Maurangi led the 10-member delegation, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Crown Law Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Ministry of Health and Education, participating both in person and virtually.
Discussions covered women’s leadership, safety, education, health, employment and access to justice, with particular attention to women and girls in the Pa Enua, those with disabilities and the impacts of climate change
In a statement, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said the exchange provided an opportunity for the country to highlight key achievements, discuss ongoing challenges and identify areas requiring further action to address discrimination against women.
“Key achievements highlighted included women’s growing representation in leadership, with women holding 73% of school principal positions, 50% of heads of ministry roles and 42.9% of board directorships,” the Ministry said.
“Other notable developments included the introduction of Parliament’s Gender Policy 2026, aimed at promoting gender equality and inclusive participation within Parliament, alongside improvements to paid maternity and paternity leave provisions benefiting both Cook Islanders and migrant workers, and private businesses.”
Progress in strengthening women’s safety and economic opportunities was also highlighted, including the Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Act 2026, which strengthens protection against online harm and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
“The Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) continues to support our people including women’s economic participation through business training, mentoring and access to financial assistance for starting and growing businesses.”
Chynoweth-Maurangi said the dialogue reminded them that “while we have made progress, there are still areas where we need to do better”.
“It reinforced the importance of strong leadership, accountability and working together across Government, civil society and communities,” she said.
“As a small country with limited resources, what matters most is turning our commitments into meaningful improvements for women and girls, including those in our Pa Enua.
“The real work begins when we return home, translating what we have learned into practical action. Achieving lasting gender equality also requires an inclusive approach that recognises the needs of men and boys, alongside our continued commitment to advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls.”
Cook Islands looks forward to the Committee’s recommendations to guide future priorities and strengthen ongoing efforts towards gender equality.
The Government of the Cook Islands would like to thank the UN Women for supporting the delegation's in-person participation in Geneva, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAI) and Cultural Development (MOCD) for facilitating virtual participation from home, and Pacific-Community-SPC for its technical guidance and preparatory mock session.