Door-to-door advocacy is an effective way to reduce the high prevalence of domestic violence in Timor-Leste, say women’s advocates.
Activist Maria Micato Domingas Alves called on women’s organizations to go door-to-door to explain the meaning of equality to local families.
She said Timorese society was still based on traditions and a culture in which women must pay respect men even if they also worked outside the home.
“Advocacy [work] and training aim to remove these habits which distinguish men and women; it starts from small groups within the family,” she said at a national conference for survivors of domestic violence in Dili.
She said it was difficult to change this type of culture as it was socio-cultural norm created a long time ago.
“It is not easy changing people’s mentality, but every institution, particularly women’s organizations, need to find creative ways to influence the people,” she urged.
Alves said the government had made significant efforts to address the issue. It approved the domestic violence law and has signed the international treaty on Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), although this does not guarantee that women will not experience violence.
While door-to-door advocacy work by women’s organization was a positive step, she said it was still ineffective as it was only conducted at organized events and advocates did not speak directly with families.
She said advocacy work was the responsibility of women’s groups, as well as religious and other institutions.
Meanwhile, President of Rede Feto Judit Ximenes said women’s organizations had been making efforts to try to change people’s mentality.
“We are not doing door-to-door activities, but our member organizations have been working with [local] groups and communities at a grassroots level,” she said.
She said a women’s network comprising of 24 members was working in various areas, including advocacy, assistance and agriculture.
Meanwhile, Director of Timor-Leste Women’s Communication Forum (FOKUPERS) Marilia Alves said their advocacy work was based on their capacity.
Due to a lack of human and financial resources, she said the organization was currently only working in the five municipalities of Bobonaro, Covalima, Viqueque, Dili and Ermera.
She said their activities included advocacy, training and trauma counseling to help survivors live a normal life in their communities.
