20 Mar 2017

Cook Islands PM's views under attack by youth council

3:04 pm on 20 March 2017

In an open letter to the Prime Minister published in Cook Islands News, the Youth Council stated Mr Puna's remarks were out of place and left many women disheartened and saddened over the archaic views he presented.

The Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna says the country will be a dynamic voice for the Pacific as a member of UNESCO's executive board.

The Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna says the country will be a dynamic voice for the Pacific as a member of UNESCO's executive board. Photo: RNZ/Daniela Maoate-Cox

The Youth Council took issue with references made by the Prime Minister to family planning, saying it undermined the freedom of women to make choices about their career paths, their bodies and sexuality.

Mr Puna's comments that child discipline was too lax and directly correlated to increased crime rates were also dismissed.

The National Youth Council stated the Prime Minister's view on reserved seats in parliament as not being conducive to women becoming MPs on their own merits goes against significant research and the need for greater female representation in parliament.

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