DILI, 28, june 2022 (TATOLI)– It is necessary to eliminate the violence at the community level, through the implementation of the spotlight to help the government achieves sustainable development goals number five (SDG5), UN Representative in Timor-Leste, Roy Trivedy has said.
The SDG5 aims to ensure women and girls, everywhere, have equal rights and opportunity and be able to live free of violence and discrimination.
“The spotlight initiative program mostly involves all government programs. To ensure that all programs achieve their goals, it is also necessary to eliminate violence at the community level,” Trivedy told reporters at the Novo Tourism hotel, Lecidere, Tuesday.
Based on the insights of the UN identified that 50% of women and children suffer from violence and abuse in the country, saying, therefore, the government should prioritize the importance of eliminating violence against women, children, persons with disabilities, and LGBTIQ.
“Women and children are affected by violence which can contribute to the development of the country. Therefore it is an important requirement for the Government to focus on eliminating violence against women, children, persons with disabilities, and LGBTIQ individuals and groups,” he said.
Roy Trivedy said the United Nations had observed that there was good progress in the first spotlight programs implemented by international and national NGOs at several city levels.
According to Mr. Trivedy, the second spotlight initiative program will run from June 2022 to December 2023. The second phase of the program will ensure the sustainable output of the program.
“The highlighted program can be achieved well in several important key areas which consist of improving the law, changing the law, implementing the law, ensuring that victims of violence can be properly supported, and strengthening the women’s movement This will requires support from civil society,” said Mr. Trivedy.
The Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion, Maria Do Rosario Fátima Correia said the spotlight program had a positive impact in several municipalities in Aileu Ainaro, Viqueque, Baucau, and others.
According to Rosario, during the implementation of the program, the number of gender violence and domestic violence decreased compared to the beginning of the year before the program implementation adding that many people had understood the prevention of violence against women and children.
“In the first stage of implementing the spotlight program, more than 351,000 Timorese women and girls, or 27% of the total population, have benefited from the Spotlight Initiative over the past year,” she said.
Rosario said this project was also implemented based on the government’s national action plan which focuses on four important aspects, namely prevention, social service, accessibility of justice, monitoring, and evaluation of the national action plan.
“This mechanism allows the government to achieve sustainable development goals within the contribution of the spotlight program in Timor-Leste,” She concluded.
At the same time, Rosario also expressed her appreciation to the UN agencies leading the spotlight program.
“We appreciate the coordination of work between the five UN agencies including UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, and ILO in the implementation of the spotlight program and we particularly recognize the vital contributions of many activists, advocates, civil society, governments, and community leaders who have joined the program and pushed to end gender-based violence in all its forms. Only together, we will ensure that Timorese women and girls are safe and free to realize their full potential.”
So far the Spotlight Initiative has been funded by the European Union (EU) for USD 15 million.
Journalist: José Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Nelia B
