DILI, 11 october 2023 (TATOLI) – The implementation of the Together for Equality (T4E) Programme has positively impacted the lives of 54,422 people in Timor-Leste.
T4E is a comprehensive program aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) and promoting gender equality in Timor-Leste.
“As of september 2023, the project reached a milestone by positively impacting the lives of 54,422 direct beneficiaries, including 31,659 women, 22,668 men, 10 LGBTI members, and 83 people with disabilities across four municipalities. The efforts from the project have also supported 18 Government Institutions and 29 Civil Society Organizations,” said in a statement.
According to findings from DHS 2016, almost half of married women have husbands with controlling behavior. Additionally, 74% of women agree that a husband is justified in beating his wife. With this mentality still visible among communities in the country, an extensive GBV-focused project is critical.
The Together for Equality partnership supports Timor-Leste’s implementation of its NAP-GBV, led by SEI and the National SDG Roadmap, have collaborated with key line ministries and CSOs working to prevent GBV, provide support to key health and justice services, strengthen monitoring and reporting on violence in public and private spaces, and address GBV in the context of disaster risk reduction.
The “Together for Equality” program, generously funded by KOICA over a 4-year duration since its inception in november 2020, was designed to complement the government’s ongoing initiatives set forth in the National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence, spearheaded by Secretary of State for Equality (SEI). This collaborative joint program spans four target municipalities: Dili, Baucau, Covalima, and RAEOA and its implementation is overseen by four United Nations agencies, namely UN Women, UNFPA, IOM, and UNDP.
The project incorporates proven approaches to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) proactively. It focuses on various target groups, including individuals (particularly young people and marginalized communities), with the aim of equipping them with knowledge and skills to become catalysts for change. By empowering families and communities, the project aims to foster resilience against sexual harassment and other forms of GBV. Additionally, the project provides support to vital government institutions, enabling them to expand their outreach, and allocation of resources and enhance the quality of essential support services.
Hamutuk ba Igualdade (Together for Equality: Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence in Timor-Leste (T4E) hosted a transformative two-day event that begins today, bringing together project partners, beneficiaries, government officials, and experts to share progress, insights, and strategies in the fight against gender-based violence in Timor-Leste.
The event aims to showcase the T4E’s interventions undertaken so far, discuss lessons learned, identify successful approaches for scaling up, and develop a sustainability strategy as the project nears its closure in November 2024.
Participants in the event include UN Resident Coordinator, Funmi Balogun, Country Director of KOICA Timor-Leste, Eunju Cha, Director General of the Secretary of State for Equality (SEI), Armando da Costa, joint steering committee members, representatives of the line ministries & and departments, and development partners.
During the event, a distinguished panel of 18 speakers from diverse institutions showcased how the T4E project has enriched their experiences, offering insights into good practices while also addressing the challenges encountered during the project’s implementation.
Notably, the event underscored the significance of key interventions, demonstrating how these initiatives have effectively supported the fight against gender-based violence and bolstered responses regarding this issue. An additional point of discussion was the scaling up of the initiative and ensuring the sustainability of the project, thereby extending its positive impact well beyond the closing date. This multifaceted approach encompasses strengthening the project’s influence while promoting institutional and societal ownership to further build upon the project’s achievements.
As Together for Equality nears its conclusion, this event serves as a call to action. It challenges stakeholders to explore sustainability strategies, ensuring that the progress achieved endures and continues to make a difference in the lives of those affected by gender-based violence.
Together for Equality brings together the expertise and roles of Timor-Leste Government institutions, the four implemented UN agencies, KOICA, and CSOs building on the collective strengths as partners to address the connected issues of domestic violence in the family, sexual harassment, and violence in public spaces as well as GBV in the context of disasters risk reduction.
The Together for Equality partnerships support Timor-Leste’s implementation of its National Action Plan 2022-2023 (NAP-GBV), led by the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion and the National SDG Roadmap, in collaboration with key line ministries and CSOs working to prevent GBV, provide support to key health and justice services, strengthen monitoring and reporting on violence in public and private spaces, and address GBV in the context of disaster risk reduction. This project also directly supports KOICA’s global flagship “Fill the Gap” Initiative supporting countries to reach targets on SDG 5 on gender equality.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomino Martins
