A Cook Islands women's counselling centre says domestic violence statistics are still shocking despite a slight drop off in the number of reported cases last year.
Cook Islands domestic violence trend 2016-2017 Photo: Supplied / Cook Islands Police Service
The Cook Islands Police released statistics this week that show reported incidents have decreased from 185 in 2016 to 170 last year.
The co-ordinator of Punanga Tauturu counselling centre, Rebeka Buchanan, says it's working with the government and other NGOs such as the Red Cross to address the problem.
"Funding is an issue as to how much we can work on in the community in raising awareness. Also, through the schools because we need to bring these numbers down and I feel one of the ways is educating people and empowering women."