DILI, 24 may 2022 (TATOLI)– The United Nations Representative in Timor-Leste (UN-TL) calls on all communities in Timor-Leste to prevent discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) communities.
According to Mr. Roy Trivedy, thousands of LGBT groups in the world have faced various discrimination similar to Timor-Leste, LGBT groups are vulnerable to discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, therefore the UN in Timor-Leste is working on programs to provide advocacy and counseling for the community to avoid discrimination against LGBTI groups.
“We should not allow discrimination against them. They have the same rights as other normal people,” he said.
In the same place, Trivedy said the UN also recommended to the Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS) to include LGBTI groups in inclusive education, saying they should be treated the same as others, especially for the education accessibility.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports Armindo Maia said the Ministry of Education plans to include LGBT programs in the school curriculum.
“We have plans to incorporate LGBTI programs into the school curriculum, also provide capacity building for teachers on how to treat LGBTI groups in schools to help them feel comfortable to access education without discrimination,” said Minister Maia.
While following a survey report from the United Nations, the highest number of discrimination against LGBTI groups includes three municipalities, Dili, Bobonaro, and Liquiça.
Iram Saeed, UN Researcher for LBGTI in Dili said the survey focused on physical and mental discrimination: “Most LGBTI people in the three municipalities are out of school,”
The research also identified that the community still has limited knowledge about the existence of LGBTI, and thus people continue to bully and treat them badly at school and even at the community level.
Iram Saeed stressed, that the UN, therefore, provides the advocacy for the community to raise awareness about the existence of LGBTI.
“We also provide advocacy for students, teachers, and parents to increase their knowledge about LGBTI and to prevent the discrimination against them,” he said.
Based on the research results, the UN highly recommends that MoEYS take the greatest responsibility for LGBTI students and ensure they have equal rights to access education.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Nelia Borges
