DILI, 04 december 2023 (TATOLI) – The Vera Cruz Health Center (VCHC) provides treatment for 300 victims of domestic violence. Most of the victims are women and girls, as well as children.
VCHC spokesperson Marelia Fereira da Conceicão called for action against domestic violence in the country to protect women, girls, and children from such violent acts.
Concenção made the comments at the kick-off ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign on december 4, in Dili, which was co-organized by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and other relevant entities.
She said that despite the efforts made by the government and stakeholders, cases of domestic violence in the country continue to rise.
“Cases of domestic violence are very high in Timor-Leste,” Conceição told reporters at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism, a global effort to end violence against women and girls.
Conceição highlighted the importance of informing communities that domestic violence is a crime in Timor-Leste.
In March 2009, Timor-Leste’s Penal Code was enacted, which established “mistreatment of a spouse” (equated to domestic violence) as a public crime, ensuring criminal proceedings do not depend on a formal complaint from the victim; this means the state is obliged to investigate and prosecute crimes of domestic violence.
She urged those who experience domestic violence to seek support from relevant organizations providing specific support to victims of domestic violence: “Victims have to report domestic violence to the police.”
“Those who have committed these kinds of violent acts against women, girls, and children must be tried according to the law,” said Conçeião.
The head of the Vulnerable Persons Police Unit (VPU), Inspector Anita Qudros, said that domestic violence is a public crime and VPU therefore has a responsibility to arrest and detain those who commit the crime.
According to the United Nations, violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world: “Despite many countries passing laws to combat violence against women, weak enforcement and discriminatory social norms remain significant problems. Globally, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.”
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, which kicks off on 25 november, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day, calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomeno Martins
