President of Women’s Parliamentary Group Timor-Leste (GMPTL) Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares said domestic problems which resulted in the destruction of property was categorized public crime and should be dealt with in the formal system.
She explained there are four forms of domestic violence; physical, psychological, sexual and economic.
Destruction of a woman’s property was a form of economic violence.
“It’s public crime; if a woman becomes a victim she can complain,” said Member of Parliament Pereira in National Parliament.
She said when men create problemsin the family, they somegtimes destroyed women’s things such as necklaces or important personal documents.
Secretary of State for Promotion Equality (SEPI) Idelta Maria Rodrigues said as there were four types of domestic violence, incidences of domestic violence needed to be defined into the four categories so they could be dealt with by the relevant authority.
