Stakeholders were immensely proud that such a robust and comprehensive review of domestic legislation was completed by “one of their own” - local lawyer and Cook Islands Red Cross staff member Mrs. Fine Tu’itupou-Arnold. The enthusiasm and sense of ownership that this created permeated the entire workshop.
Senior government officials, members of diplomatic missions and civil society attended the two day workshop and actively took part in the various discussions and scenario exercises. Sharing their vast knowledge and skills in disaster management, stakeholders openly discussed their personal experiences and teamed together to come up with creative ideas in tackling a number of the issues identified in the draft IDRL report. The result was an appreciation for existing gap areas and a realisation that the way forward must be a collaborative one.
The workshop was held in Avarua, and was organised with the support of the IFRC Regional Delegation in Suva and the New Zealand Red Cross. The Cook Islands IDRL report was presented to the government on the 21st of August, and is currently being finalized.