Dili, November 18, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture (MESCC) together with UN Women and Koica in Timor-Leste organized an activity on even participation in the launch and strategy of Zero Tolerance against sexual harassment in higher education. This activity was held in the hall of the Timor Hotel, Dili.
According to MESCC, José Honorio da Costa Jeronimo said that today’s activity is very important for Timor-Leste regarding sexual harassment that occurs in universities.
“We are doing this activity because it is very important for our country related to sexual harassment, I want to convey to the public that MESCC is working with UN Women and Koica to conduct socialization to students, lecturers including employees that sexual harassment is bad and immoral behavior.” Said the Minister of Higher Education , Science and Culture.
He continued that sexual harassment is a bad behavior, therefore MESCC collaborated with UN Women and Koica, Universities and Institutions to sign the petition on Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment.
“As we know that sexual harassment is an immoral behavior that can degrade our dignity, because we force others to commit sexual harassment by force, as bad behavior because we force others to commit sexual harassment by force.” He added.
He added that especially regarding sexual harassment that occurs to students at school, they must tell others about the problems they experience, when experiencing sexual harassment from teachers, employees or other students.
“I am grateful that today’s activities were also well attended by students and they also compromised to implement a firm stance against sexual harassment so that they can change their minds to distance themselves when someone tries to sexually harass them,” he said.
As the representative of the Secretary of State for Equality (SEI), Maria Filomena Belo in her speech said that today’s launch activity is very important in relation to preventing the problem of sexual harassment in secondary schools.
“I think related to this activity, it is a very important step for all of us to ensure that we are free from sexual harassment that occurs in higher education, especially in universities, where sexual harassment has so far occurred in academic environments.” Said SEI representative, Maria Filomena Belo
She continued, this launching activity is to provide legality for all of us, how we can unite against sexual harassment if it occurs in the university environment, this is in line with the national plan to combat gender-based violence.
“The Secretary of State for Equality with its partners, Such as Civil Society, agencies, UN, , national and international Institution partners together with the European Union, has organized a national action plan against gender-based violence from 2022 to 2032, this is a step to prevent these problems.” She continued.
Moreover, to be clear that through the collaboration of MESCC with UN Women and Koica in Timor Leste, an activity was held on event participation in the context of the launch and strategy of zero tolerance towards sexual harassment in universities, because so far we know that in several universities there has been sexual harassment, therefore through this launch so that we are all aware to pay attention and stay away from sexual harassment in various places.
Reported by : Nelfiano
Picture by : Nelfiano