DILI, 13 april 2022 (TATOLI)- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) cooperated with the Minister of Health (MoH) to focus on the reinforcement of institutional Health System on Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The UNFPA country representative in Timor-Leste, Lorna Rolla said the violence against women and girls happens everywhere. Globally, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
“We all know that domestic violence is prevalent in Timor-Leste. According to the 2016 DHS, almost three in five (59%) ever-partners aged 15-49 experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. More than two and three (74%) women agree a husband is justified in beating their wives,” The UNFPA country representative in Timor-Leste, Lorna Rolls said in her remarks at Suai room, Timor-Leste, this wednesday.
In other part, KOICA Country Director, Eun-Ju Cha said it is most important to join together the equality program. This project is implemented by UN agencies funded by the KOICA agency.
This project aimed at the prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).More cooperation is required among relevant entities to reduce the number of victims of GBV.
Mrs. Cha considers that Health facilities are often the first point of contact for the survivors of gender-based violence.
On the other hand, Vice Minister of Health, Bonifacio Mau Coli emphasized that gender-based violence has become a public health issue. Gender-based violence continues to be a common violation of the human rights issues in Timor-Leste.
Gender-based violence is a Public crime as 30% of women under 15 years old. The prevalence of violence against women and girls, according to the Demographic Health Survey of Timor-Leste 2016, indicates that one-third (33%) of the women aged 15-49 have suffered physical assault since they were 15 years old.
Mr. Mau Coli said it is a serious case. It needs attention and hard work, particularly in the health sector intervention in terms of prevention and response to the gender-based violence case, as the health sector generally often becomes the first point of contact for GBV cases.
The prevention of GBV is requesting for some points comprising: 1) Principal prevention refers to transformation of mindset or human behavior change, 2) Second prevention is the action committed on the GBV should be collected to the justice and decree law protection for gender based violence.
More preventive action should be taken to reduce the number of victims affected by Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The General Director of Secretary of State for equality and inclusion, Armando da Costa reports the data that GBV data shows in 2017 the domestic violence (DV) was 821% and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) 142%, in 2018 821 % (DV) and 178 (GBV), 2019 1071 (DV) and 276 (GBV) and in 2020 1082 (DV) and 237 (GBV).
The Together for Equality Project is funded by KOICA and it is implemented for four years. The program is in cooperation with the Minister of Health and other development partners composed of UNFPA, UNDP, and others on implanting this project.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
