International agency United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), through the Secretary of State for Equality Promotion (SEPI), has given $161,000 to five local NGOs to run activities to assist domestic violence victims and raise community awareness of laws prohibiting domestic violence.
UNFPA representative for Timor-Leste, John M. Pile, said UNFPA made a commitment in 2013 to support Timor-Leste’s government to promote gender equality and women’s participation in democracy and work towards the elimination of domestic violence.
“The UNFPA supports five NGOs that help gender violence victims access health services, safe housing, counselling, legal support and access to doctors,” Pile said in Maria Tapo hall, Kaikoli, Dili.
He said the UNFPA had provided computer, English, life skills and vocational training for more than 350 victims of domestic and gender violence.
The five NGOs which received the funds are AlFela, Pradet, Casa Vida, FOKUPERS and Uma Mahon Salele.
Idelta Maria Rodrigues, Secretary of State for Equality Promotion, said it was not the first time these NGOs received support. She said the NGOs had received support since the previous government for domestic violence prevention activities.
She asked the NGOs to keep trying to improve coordination with the government because the government was committed to the fight against domestic violence within Timor-Leste.
“I wish for you to make a commitment to have good accountability and responsibility in relation to the annual work planning document we have just signed with the UNFPA,” Rodrigues said.
She said SEPI would allocate $300,000 to local NGOs to run prevention activities and raise awareness of domestic violence laws.
At the same place, Domingas Soares, representative of Uma Hakmatek Casa Vida, said he felt somewhat concerned about the existing system because the funds they received in 2013 from UNFPA through SEPI only covered six months.
“We cannot give any comment because we haven’t signed anything,” Coordinator Soares said.
