Dili, October 31, 2024 (Média Democracia) – Every year Alola Foundation receives 3 to 7 victims of Gender-Based Violence and the victims come bringing newborn babies to 2-year-old children who are victims of various acts of violence.
Executive Director of the Alola Foundation, Maria Imaculada Guterres, said that every month there are always victims who come to the Alola Foundation because they have problems, especially cases of Gender-Based Violence.
“Every month, there are 3 to 7 victims coming here, some bringing newborn babies and some bringing one or two year old babies and also with various kinds of violence, such as cases of neglect, domestic violence. We always record data and immediately refer to the referral network that has a mechanism,” said the Executive Director of the Alola Foundation on Tuesday.
Therefore, victims refer to “Uma Mahon” such as Pradet and Fokupers based on needs, but regarding humanitarian support, Alola Foundation refers to the Ministry of Social Solidarity in order to receive ongoing support.
She said that victims as human beings when facing difficult situations need emergency assistance to meet their needs.
“However, as humans, we also need support in urgent times, such as in very urgent situations that really need our help, especially goods as basic necessities for women and girls, therefore the Alola Foundation always offers small humanitarian aid packages at times like this to help them in difficult times,” She said.
She emphasized that in 2023 the Alola Foundation referred 30 victims to Uma Mahon and the referral network.
“Last year we referred more than 30 victims to “Uma Mahon” and some to Pradet, but many of them we also referred to the Ministry of Social Solidarity for the emergency or humanitarian support they needed, because some needed rice, food, and so on,” She added.
Therefore, for victims who need long-term assistance, the Alola Foundation refers to the Ministry of Social Solidarity, because it is the government’s duty and role to help the community when they are in difficult circumstances.
She continued, the Alola Foundation’s partner is the Ministry of Social Solidarity so that when the victim has a case, the victim will be referred to the government, especially cases of Gender-Based Violence.
“Often mothers and children who receive humanitarian assistance like this, there are more cases of neglect, some whose economy is not sufficient, men cannot support mothers and children, while their wives who are still with their babies cannot do activities outside, so that makes mothers come here to ask for help, some come with cases of Domestic Violence and some come with Sexual Violence.” She said firmly.
For victims who come to the Alola Foundation, the team will conduct counseling, data collection to see the urgent needs required, so that the foundation can provide urgent material assistance.
The Executive Director also added that the Alola Foundation had handled several cases that tended to involve human trafficking in Municipalities and also other cases such as sexual violence so that they accompanied the victims to Pradet, to the National Hospital and then continued the case process until they received legal assistance at the Ministry of Justice.
Reported by : Tomas
Picture by : Tomas