DILI, 02 June 2025 (TATOLI) — Today, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Institute of Public Health of Timor-Leste (INSPTL), in collaboration with Hamutuk Nasaun Saudavel (HAMNASA–Tetun), and with technical support from UNFPA and financial support from the Partnership for Human Development Australia (PHD), conducted a one-week training on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), taking place from 2 to 7 June at the INSPTL office in Comoro, Dili.
This GBV training was attend by 30 midwives from the Municipality of Dili Ermera and Oekusse.
UNFPA’s Gender Analyst, Dircio Francisco Xavier Fatima Ximenes, emphasized that gender-based violence (GBV) is both a human rights violation and a public health issue with far-reaching consequences. He highlighted that one-third (33%) of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
“The health care system is the only institution that interacts with almost every woman at some point in her life and women exposed to violence visit health services more frequently than non-abused women. Health service providers especially midwives, have a critical role to play in providing survivor-centered care and services for women living with violence,” he said.
Ximenes further stated that UNFPA Timor-Leste implemented the GBV program in collaboration with technical assistance to the Ministry of Health, aiming to ensure that all women and girls in Timor-Leste can live free from gender-based violence and access quality essential services. This was achieved by strengthening the capacity of the health sector to provide quality care to GBV survivors.
Madalena Fatima Gomes, Director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, said that the primary objective of the gender-based violence (GBV) training in Timor-Leste is to empower individuals and organizations to prevent and respond effectively to GBV. “This includes strengthening knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to GBV prevention, detection, and response—ultimately contributing to a safer and more equitable society for women and girls.”
She highlighted that the GBV program has now been fully integrated into the national health agenda: “The Ministry of Health, together with UNFPA, has trained healthcare providers, including midwives and doctors, across the country. We will continue to collaborate with partners to enhance the health sector’s capacity to respond to GBV, with the ultimate goal of ending Gender-Based Violence in Timor-Leste.”
On this occasion, Anabela Conceição de Andrade, National Director of INSPTL, expressed her gratitude to the Partnership for Human Development (PHD), UNFPA, HAMNASA, and the Ministry of Health for their continued efforts in providing training to midwives in Timor-Leste, aiming to equip healthcare providers with the necessary skills to manage gender-based violence (GBV) cases.
“On behalf of INSPTL, I would like to thank UNFPA, HAMNASA, and the Ministry of Health for their ongoing support in delivering this training. I also urge that this program be expanded to reach all medical professionals across all municipalities in Timor-Leste. I encourage all participants to fully engage with the training materials so they can be effectively applied in practice,” she concluded.”
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
