Rural Youth Promise To Take A Lead In Ending Gender-based Violence in Timor-Leste.

Dili, 10 December 2008, -- UNIFEM’s partners, the Association of Men against Violence (AMKV) in conjunction with women’s network Fokupers have been conducting seminars and workshops in many parts of the country during the 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women.

The youth attending the workshops have promised to take the message about ending violence against women to their families and neighbours. They would form AMKV branches to mount anti-violence campaign on voluntary basis at the district level. They would regularly be meeting to discuss various approaches of preventing and ending domestic violence. However, they also identified as their biggest challenge a lack of financial resources to meet travel expenses to cover many areas in their districts.

In addition to the series of workshops, AMKV has organised radio and television discussion programmes, bringing together gender advocates, politicians and government officials to raise issues surrounding gender-based violence in the country as a further step of educating the masses.

The workshops conducted by AMKV are among activities undertaken by other NGOs and the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI) throughout the country to commemorate the International Day of the Elimination of Gender Violence in Maliana on 25 November 2008. Speaking to the people on the day, Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres urged Timorese to tackle the problem of violence with passion.

Violence is a serious social problem affecting women in Timor-Leste. During the first six months of 2008, 336 cases of domestic violence and gender-based violence have been reported to Vulnerable Persons Units (VPUs) of the police from all the 13 districts. Of all the reported cases, Dili has registered the highest number. This does not however, suggest that there are more violent cases in Dili than anywhere else, but it is believed that the women through various sources are better informed about what action to take when their rights are violated as compared to those in other parts of the country.

Contact:
Gerald Nyamatcherenga. 
Phone: +670-3313294  ext 2115.  E-mail: gerald.nyamatcherenga%unifem.org (change % to @)

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