DILI, September 7, 2020 (TATOLI) – To Combat child sexual abuse, the European Union has given US$13.2 million to the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) to hold a training regarding forms of violations against children.
Ambassador of EU, Andrew Jacob said the EU is delighted to support the PNTL-VPU with the financial initiative, aimed at controlling the violence against woman and children.
The Initiative of spotlight funding by the EU in Timor-Leste aims to eradicate all forms of gender-based violence, focusing on aspects such as legislation and policy, institutional strengthening, prevention of violence and, offer available and quality of work, accessibility, and acceptable, data collection of quality and trustworthy information along with the movement of woman support to expand the work of investigation.
The Spotlight initiative as the global partnership among the EU and the United Nation Organization (UN), to involve all citizens, men and women, formal and informal leaders, Individual and institution to create a favourable environment and block various gender-based violence, especially domestic violence and sexual abuse, aimed to strengthen woman and children in society.
“I am delighted to be here to witness the Spotlight Initiative, through the European Union which has provided funds worth US $ 13.2 million,” Ambassador Jacob said as part of his participation in the opening of the training course at the PNTL Academy.
Child Sexual abuse is severe in many countries; over a few years, the number of child sexual abuse cases has increased and caused injury to people who work and fight against this crisis.
An earlier report published from the EUROPOL said the outbreak of COVID-19 had given an increased risk for the exploitation of child sexual abuse. The children who are spending their hours online, sometimes encounter predators.
Ambassador Jacob said children could also encounter dramatic consequence if they are living together with an abuser during the isolation related to COVID-19.
Child abuse and trauma, as something outmost in Timor-Leste. In 2016 based on the study from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates three children among five children had encountered sexual abuse in their young childhoods.
Earlier reports from Word Vision shows that around 30% of adolescent girls in Timor-Leste have been subjected to physical violence and a very significant percentage report to young people with disabilities who have never attended the schools.
With all of these issues, the EU will continue to cooperate with their partners to do more work to improve the situation of violence and sexual abuse of children in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Egénio Perreira
Editor: Francisco Simões/Nick Kettle
Translation: Nelia Borges
