The 4th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival premiered the documentary “Pacific Mother” on October 5 at Damodar City Cinemas. The film explores the birthing experiences of mothers from the Cook Islands, Hawaii, Tuvalu, and Japan through their own perspectives.
Director and writer Katherine McRae noted that the film carries a universal message that resonates with audiences. She highlighted the restrictive legislation in some Pacific island nations concerning the qualifications required for midwives.
“In Hawaii, there was legislation being threatened, which has been enacted, requiring midwives to possess specific qualifications that are not available in Hawaii,” she explained. “This situation leaves many women from the outer islands, who have significant birth knowledge and experience, unable to identify as midwives, making it illegal for them to assist, which I find extremely dangerous.”
Heike Alefsen, the Pacific regional representative for the United Nations Human Rights Office (UNOCHR), emphasized that the purpose of the festival is to engage the audience with topics that are often overlooked. “Many of us attend films without fully understanding the backgrounds of the impactful stories presented,” she stated.