The Timor-Leste Women’s Communication Forum (FOKUPERS) said it assisted 225 victims of gender-based violence in 2015.
Executive Director Marilia Alves said violence against women and children occurred every day and many had no option but to leave their homes.
“Every day women and girls are looking for help and safe places as their homes are not safe anymore,” said Alves at her office Farol, Dili.
She said the victims were usually brought to FOKUPERS by relatives, the police and other service partners.
Of the 225 cases in 2015, Alves said most were victims of domestic violence and sexual violence or incest.
She added that even when the cases reach the court, offenders usually received suspended sentences particularly, in domestic violence cases.
She said that so far 160 cases have been finalized in court, but many of them are still pending.
She said a stronger stance was needed to help prevent violence against women and girls in Timor-Leste.
According to data from FOKUPERS, the organization assisted 389 victims of gender-based violence between 2012 and 2014.
A 2015 survey conducted by The Asia Foundation 2015 (TAF) in the Dili, Ermera and Same municipalities found that 35% of women experienced physical or sexual violation in their lifetime and of those, 30% were victims of violence perpetrated by their close partners.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Timor-Leste Women’s Parliamentarian Group (GMPTL), Aurora Ximenes, said she was concerned that cases were increasing every year.
She also called on the government to take into consideration issues raised by development partners in order to find a solution and combat the cycle of violence across the country.
“Legislative and justice sector reform are important to strengthen the penal code and the implementation of domestic violence laws to combat it,” she said.
She called on the government to take these matters into consideration given that violence against women was increasing.
She also urged families to educate their children well so that they choose the right path in life and not get into trouble with the law.
