Women’s activist, Laura Pina, urged the government through its Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health to urgently establish DNA testing in Timor-Leste because DNA is currently being sent overseas for testing.
She raised the issue in relation to the need for quick DNA testing in cases of sexual violence and so survivors can get justice.
Activist Pina added many women survivors of sexual violence lose their case and the male perpetrator goes free because DNA testing is not readily available in the country.
“It is important in cases of sexual violence and incest. Many times women also fall pregnant to their perpetrator so we need DNA testing equipment,” she said during a ceremony to launch an Options Report for women in accessing justice and the barriers and process of making decisions in the context of judicial pluralism, held at Timor Paza in Dili.
“In the era of globalization the government needs to ensure we have adequate equipment because DNA testing provides very strong medical evidence that can be used by the courts in cases of sexual violence and incest.”
Meanwhile MP Eladio Faculto, from Commission F (Health, Education, Gender Equality and Veteran Affairs), highlighted the case of some veterans whose DNA samples were taken for testing and the results have not yet been received.
“I urge the Timor-Leste government to purchase equipment for DNA testing urgently because we have a country where many people died and we need someone to specialize in this area,” said MP Faculto.
The Minister of Justice, Dr. Dionisio Babo Soares, said DNA testing is very important but testing is complex and costly to train adequate human resources.
“We are still in talks with the Ministry of Health to look into this issue because we have a strong need for it [DNA testing],” said Minister Soares.
