Timor-Leste’s First Lady, Isabel da Costa Ferreira, said the country is currently facing a moral crisis, with divorce, abandonment and prostitution cases thriving.
She expressed concerns that many people were getting involved in prostitution due to bad lifestyle choices.
“We are facing a moral crisis,” said Ferreira at a conference on women’s economic development at Hotel Timor, Dili.
She blamed the rise in drug use, prostitution and HIV/SIDA on negative influences facing today’s young people.
“The easy way will destroy your dignity because you can be from a rich family, but without dignity you will never be happy with that,” she said.
She called on Timorese citizens to honor those who struggled for independence and contribute to the country’s development with responsibility, intelligence and dignity.
Meanwhile, women’s rights activist Isabella Galhos said civic education is very important for the youths because today’s youths have no more respect to one and another.
“We hear our children insulting each other and their parents along the street and that’s the truth,” she said.
She said everyone had their own viewson social problems like divorce, adding that many women were suffering and didn’t have a choice.
