The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) launched a report based on a study on the impediments to the implementation of the Domestic Violence Law in Timor-Leste.
UNDP’s Country Director, Mikiko Tanaka, said the objective of the study conducted was to determine the challenges preventing women and victims of domestic violence from accessing the formal justice system.
The Domestic Violence Law was promulgated in 2010.
Country Director Tanaka added the report also looks at the causes that prevent women survivors of domestic violence from reporting their ordeal to the police and other competent authorities.
The study notes many challenges and factors that impede women victims to report to the police such as traditional systems related to family relations, the economy, abd social factors including the lack of shelters that compounded make it hard for women to bring their cases to the formal justice system.
“I hope this report can assist all institutions address the needs of victims of domestic violence and ensure the adequate implementation of the domestic violence law.”
UNDP CR Tanaka added also the report describes the factors and also makes recommendations for State institutions such as the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), the Ministry of Justice, the Courts, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of the Public and other entities to use the information in the report to combat and prevent domestic violence in Timor-Leste.
Meanwhile the Minister of Justice, Dr. Dionisio Babo Soares, acknowledged the incidence of domestic violence cases in Timor-Leste is currently high and the report explaining the causes and challenges for the implementation of the Domestic Violence Law will assist in the mitigation of these types of cases.
He said many women address domestic violence cases through the traditional justice system that is not beneficial to women but he also noted the formal judicial system also has consequences such as leading to divorce.
“Choosing to go through traditional justice is very easy whereas the formal system is very complex and can lead to a divorce which can be hard for women,” said Minister Soares.
Meanwhile woman activist Laura Pina said the UNDP report is important but wish the report had been translated into Tetun so women’s organizations can make use of its contents.
