The 4th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival kicked off with the screening of the documentary “Pacific Mother” on October 5 at Damodar City Cinemas. This film explores the birthing experiences of mothers from the perspectives of women from the Cook Islands, Hawaii, Tuvalu, and Japan.
Director and writer Katherine McRae highlighted the film’s universal themes, allowing viewers to connect with its messages. She pointed out that some Pacific island nations have restrictive laws regarding midwives’ qualifications.
“When we were filming in Hawaii, there was pending legislation that mandated midwives to hold specific qualifications, which, according to reports, cannot even be obtained in Hawaii,” she explained. McRae expressed concern that many women in remote islands who possess significant birthing knowledge are unable to refer to themselves as midwives and are legally prohibited from assisting, which she finds alarming.
Heike Alefsen, the Pacific regional representative for the United Nations Human Rights Office (UNOCHR), emphasized that the film festival was established to engage audiences on subjects that are often overlooked. “Many attendees may not have much background on the impactful stories presented in these films,” she remarked.