District Women Participate in training on Domestic Violence and Gender

Alola Foundation - October 22, 2007

Three day workshops in six districts

The District Support Worker team are flat chat between now and Christmas as they roll out training in response to requests made by women in the Districts.

When our team visited all six districts in August and September the message was loud and clear - we need more information and resources about domestic violence, leadership, gender issues and group management and finance skills.

So, in collaboration with Oxfam Australia and Pradet (Pradet provides mental health services and survivors of sexual assault), Alola is providing six, three day workshops in Ermera, Liquica, Manatuto, Baucau, Lospalos and Viqueque.

11 - 13 October 2007 Gleno, Ermera District

The first workshop was held in Ermera District in the town of Gleno and 30 women participated representing three groups from remote and local sub-districts of Ermera. Two police women from the Vulnerable Person's Unit (VPU) also participated in the workshop. Their contribution was most valuable. The opening of the workshop was covered by both community radio and Radio Timor-Leste.

Domestic Violence - Women in Timor-Leste remain vulnerable

Many of the women reported cases of domestic and sexual violence (or Gender Based Violence, 'GBV') in their communities and also raised concerns about sexual violence against young children. One woman reported that a young child had been attacked in March 2007 but had not received any followup support or intervention since then. Aware of this case, the VPU officers said that like many other GBV reports, cases can wait many months before the Prosecutor General gives the go ahead for an investigation to be carried out. By that stage it is difficult to collect evidence and bring a comprehensive case before the courts to prosecute the suspect.

The VPU police women also talked about the difficulties they face. Currently on very low salaries, they struggle to make ends meet but they often have to pay for fuel or telephone credit out of their own pocket. Prepared to be called out 24 hours a day, these women often go hungry on the long trips to Dili to court, or to investigate a case in remote areas as they cannot afford to buy meals along the way. Without access to a camera and other specialist investigative equipment, it is very difficult to collect evidence.

Too often, communities resort to the traditional justice because the criminal justice system is just too hard and too slow to negotiate. Traditional justice usually means negotiating some kind of compensation for the family of the child or woman who has been attacked. Invariably, that means the father, uncle or older brother receives compensation while the survivor of the attack receives nothing.

The first step is for women to know their rights and to support each other to exercise those rights. The introductory workshop helps women to understand their rights, explore gender issues, learn about support services and networks and to establish groups that will help strengthen their voice in the community and promote economic independence.

Gender Awareness and Economic Independence

The following sessions helped women explore the relationship between leadership, advocacy, gender, culture and economic independence. But it wasn't all serious hard work!

We discussed the cultural practices that descriminate against women like the bride price. In areas where the bride price is high domestic violence rates are high too. The wise woman below suggested reducing the bride price to a much smaller symbolic amount. That way, the cultural tradition is protected but so are the rights of women.