(Díli) Farol- ONG Forum Communication for Women of East Timor (FOKUPERS) held a press conference to strongly condemn acts of violence against women and demand the competent authorities to bring the criminals to justice.
“Today Fokupers marks another step with its existence in it’s journey in the fight against inequality, against all acts of violence against women and girls in Timor-Leste. women continue to be targets of violence? This question is not only Fokupers’, but the STATE of Timor-Leste must see injustice and truth that will be considered as a challenge in the implementation of laws that ensure all citizens, especially women, to live freely and independently,” said Rio Araújo, Fokupers Advocacy Officer at a press conference, Farol, 17/07/2025
He added, in 2025 from month of January to July cases that Fokupers attended and registered a total of 126 cases of physical violence, sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, incest and other cases, gender-based violence against women and girls in public or family relationships.
“Events The first week of July, in the case of murder that happened in the municipality of Ainaro, Jakarta two (2) places that are a long history of past violence, and now become a place of violence against women, a young woman aged 23 died, because of violent actions by the aggressor. (HNGV) on July 8, 2025 that: the victim died with pregnancy or pregnancy” he said
He stressed, cases of child prostitution and human trafficking that happened in Dili and Brunei. Information through online media on June 4, 2025, in some agencies in Timor-Leste recruited 14 young women illegally to work in Slovakia, then on July 7, 2025 through the official Facebook page of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) that suspected a company in Dili recruited young women to work in Brunei Jerusalem. From this recruitment is also considered illegal without a line of coordination with the competent authorities in Timor-Leste.
“On July 1, 2025 Fokupers accessed information through the official Facebook page of the Ministry of Interior for “Public Relations Services” that it is suspected that some hotels in Dili are recruiting six (6) women under the age of child prostitution. good implementation of laws and does not monitor or supervise with maximum attention to companies or agencies that come to seek profit in Timor-Leste to continue to feed the people especially women who have no power “he stressed
While cases of sexual harassment in government institutions, public places, schools and universities, continue to be controversial for women to live freely, because people still use power to express and oppress women. Cases of infanticide that continue to occur in Dili and the municipality have a negative impact on women, families and society. In the last 3 months, through the media 3 cases of infanticide, everyone regrets and grieves for this incident.
“ Fokupers in 2 years (2024-2025) provides accompaniment to mothers especially young women related to the problem of infanticide. There are some of them sentenced to 4 years in prison, 2 years in prison and some who are still in the judicial process. There is no thorough investigation, to find out the responsibility of other perpetrators “men” who impregnated women and abandoned them, and also with the intention to force women to commit the crime,” he declared.
He reported that the state of Timor-Leste has various legal norms both national and international to ensure women and girls live free from violence and discrimination, but women and girls are still victims in society even though Timor-Leste has restored its independence for the 23rd time.
“1. Commission F of the National Parliament and the Government through the competent ministries to intervene thoroughly and rigorously to practice irregularities that groups or organizations do to use women’s vulnerability for the interest and profit of their group.
- Ask the Judicial Bodies to implement the Law Against Domestic Violence (LKVD) and other laws related to criminal acts rigorously, and apply them in accordance with existing judicial norms, Regularly evaluate the trends of crimes tried in court and the sentences applied to them (convicted). It is absolutely essential to ensure that the legal/juridical system works to ensure adequate protection of victims and prevent another crime from occurring in the future. The Ministry of Justice and the courts to ensure fair and non-discriminatory law enforcement against women including those committed in cases of abortion and infanticide.
- Ask the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) to ensure the implementation of the Law through monitoring the implementation of laws, Manuals, Regulations effectively in accordance with the principles of Human Rights and Good Governance.
- Ask the Secretary of State for Equality (SEI), to expand and strengthen the socialization of laws related to Gender Based Violence (GBV) to raise community awareness on the importance of respect and non-discrimination against women covered by
- The Catholic Church and all religious convictions in Timor-Leste to strengthen pastoral services to raise people’s awareness of religious values and human values so that people live in mutual respect and respect for human rights.
- Fokupers appreciates the Commander-in-Chief Commissioner General of Police Mr. Henrique da Costa and all members of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) especially the Police Information Service, VPU and PCIC who showed professional service and seriousness in identifying and capturing acts of violence, especially violence against women and girls in Timor-Leste. Therefore, ask the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and PCIC to continue to take immediate action against public crimes according to the law, especially the role of PNTL and PCIC with severity.
- To all entities, ministerial lines in Government, municipal authorities, civil society and churches and all religious convictions to strengthen coordination and collaboration in a consistent and comprehensive manner, in order to provide better protection to women and children from all forms of violence, as well as create a safer and more just society.
Meanwhile, FOKUPERS stands with the victims and all Timorese women in the fight against violence. And continue to call on civil society, the media, and all parties not to remain silent. Violence against a woman is violence against all of humanity.
Journalist : Traineer Pedro Klau
Editor :Manuel Andrade
