DILI, 28 february 2024 (TATOLI) – The Timorese Women’s Communication Forum (Fokupers) has facilitated school re-entry for more than 60 young mothers after pregnancy.
These young mothers dropped out of school because they were victims of gender-based violence (GBV) during pregnancy.
In Timor-Leste, discrimination, gender-based violence (GBV), bullying, and other socio-cultural factors constrained the school re-entry of young mothers.
In Timor-Leste, data indicates that 19% of young women (20-24) are married before 18 and 24% already have a child by the time they turn 20.
“Fokupers has identified more than 60 victims of GBV during and after pregnancy in the municipalities of Ermera, Viqueque, and Dili. I would like to encourage these young mothers to return to school to complete their secondary education and pursue their future job career,” Fokupers director Maria Fátima Perreira Guterres told TATOLI.
She said that Fokupers, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will facilitate the return of these teenage mothers to their respective schools.
Most of these pregnant teenage mothers are between the ages of 14 and 17 and are currently under Fokupers’ shelter for safety and security reasons.
“Getting pregnant in their late teenage, of course, they suffer discrimination and GBV from their families. Therefore, we advise them to go back to school to pursue their education despite their current situation,” said Guterres.
UNFPA representative, Domingas Fernando said that UNFPA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and Fokupers has been working on the implementation of sex education to help prevent teenage girls from becoming pregnant.
Sex education is high-quality teaching and learning about a broad variety of topics related to sex and sexuality.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
