The Women’s Communication Forum Timor-Leste (FOKUPERS) will research community knowledge of reproductive health issues.
Advocacy program coordinator Honoria Lopes said the objective of the research was to identify what obstacles women face related to their reproductive health.
Many mothers and young women did not prioritize their health because they lack knowledge of the issues, she said.
Lopes said her team had recently conducted a grassroots-level assessment to determine the best way to carry out the research.
She added the research was funded by the international agency UNFPA for six months.
The research will be conducted in Ermera and in Dili. Within Dili, researchers will focus on the sub-districts of Metinaro and Atauro.
The Secretary of State for Equality Promotion (SEPI) Idelta Maria Rodrigues acknowledged FOKUPERS for its efforts to further gender equality and its work in partnership with the gender study centre at the National University of Timor-Lorosa’e.
She said SEPI had formed an agreement with the gender study centre to conduct research into gender equality, which was an issue of concern for all in Timor-Leste and required action from all parties.
“Those organizations should cooperate with the gender study centre,” said Rodrigues.
She pledged the government would fortify the work of the centre to establish it as the national peak research body for gender equality so anyone in need of data about gender equality could access it.
She said the centre had conducted much important research such as studies about the education drop-out rate of women, and the number of women involved in agriculture.
This year, the centre will conduct research into the role of women in providing water and sanitation infrastructure.
