Government launches National Action Plan Against Gender Based Violence
Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Dili, June 19th, 2017
Government launches National Action Plan Against Gender Based Violence
On the 16th of June the Government’s National Action Plan Against Gender Based Violence 2017-2021 was launched at a ceremony at the Hotel Turismo in Dili. The plan is the most comprehensive developed to date in response to what it calls the “insidious problem” of Gender Based Violence in Timor-Leste.
Signaling the high level of Government commitment to addressing this issue, the Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, spoke at the launch and firmly endorsed the overall goal of the National Action Plan to “reduce and ultimately eliminate gender based violence that affects women, men and children in our communities through a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach.” The Secretariat of State for the Support and Socio Economic Promotion of Women took the lead role in developing the new plan which updates, extends and enhances the previous plan produced in 2012 following the introduction of the Law Against Domestic Violence in 2010.
Secretary of State H.E. Veneranda Lemos Martins, said the plan was developed through a participatory and inclusive approach. This included discussions with key actors in the sectors of education, health, social solidarity, security, justice, line ministries, national institutions, service providers, civil society organizations and development partners. Community consultation workshops were also conducted throughout the country.
The plan was approved by the Council of Ministers on the 7th of February 2017 and has four pillars: the Prevention of Gender Based Violence, Provision of Services for Victims, Access to Justice for Victims and Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation. A matrix covering the next five years sets out specific actions to be undertaken in each of the four pillars, identifying who is responsible from within government and which external organisations will be collaborating, estimating how much each action will cost, and listing the specific indicators that will be used to measure success.
Spokesperson, Minister of State Agio Pereira, noted “the liberation and development of our country must result in the liberation and development of us all. That many of our people endure ongoing violence is not acceptable. It is not to be tolerated. It is not to be endured. The Government commends this plan, which should be implemented and appropriately funded for its entire duration so that we can work to transform attitudes and properly support victims and survivors. ”ENDS
