Covalima, December 10, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MS) inaugurated a safe place for victims of gender-based violence (GBV), the inauguration was held on Monday, in the village of Maudemo, Covalima.
In her remarks, UNFPA representative, Domingas Bernardo, said that in this activity UNFPA collaborated with the Ministry of Health and the local government to inaugurate a safe place at the Tilomar community health center, Covalima.
“UNFPA’s compromise and vision is that we must eliminate gender-based violence, this vision is not only in Timor-Leste but also in the global, therefore we are fighting to create a space to ensure women and girls and provide support to health workers with good conditions to respond effectively to gender-based violence and from here can reduce the violence that women always face in their daily lives in this country.” Said UNFPA representative, Domingas Bernando
She continued, the inauguration of the safe place is not only today, but the seventh time, the inauguration for the third time received financial support from the Korean government through KOICA and the safe places in Dili, Baucau and Covalima also received financial support from KOICA for other safe places such as in Viqueque, Bobonaro, Ermera received financial support from Europe and also for Liquiça received support from international NGOs, in the short term will inaugurate a safe place in Lospalos.
“This project started in 2022, UNFPA also supports the Salele safe house in collaboration with the Sisters to carry out rehabilitation in the Salele safe house and hopes that from the inauguration of this safe place we can strengthen the better profession of the important work of health workers for survivors living in the Salele safe house to help them strengthen the work that must be done better.” She added.
She added that gender-based violence is a public health issue, therefore the Ministry of Health has an important role to be responsible for this violence, because this violence will be a common problem that violates human rights in this country.
“Violence against women and children based on the Timor-Leste health demographic study in 2016 showed that 38% of women aged 15-49 experienced physical violence, so to stop this kind of violence UNFPA continues to collaborate with partners to reduce it, we see in Covalima today the president of the authority said that 51% because they have experienced physical, sexual and emotional violence as a very serious problem, that is why we all have to contribute to eliminating this problem in Timor-Leste.” She said
She informed that Covalima shares a land border with Indonesia, so she asked the authorities to better monitor the mobility of people entering and leaving the border to ensure healthy interactions, so that no infectious diseases or other diseases enter the country.
Director General of Health Services, Main Representative of the Ministry of Health, Elisabeth Leto Mau continued that she expressed her gratitude today for being able to participate in the inauguration of the safe place established in the Tilomar health center community, Covalima. The inauguration of this safe place is the seventh time before the first inauguration in Viqueque, Ermera, Bobonaru, Liquiça, Dili, Baucau and today in Tilomar, Covalima.
“Today’s activity is a joint project with equal funding from KOICA through UNFPA, these projects have included the inauguration of the safe house that has been mentioned, as we know that gender-based violence has become a public health issue or problem and this violence continues to be a common violation of human rights issues in this country.” She said.
She continued, based on the research results, it shows that the violence that occurs is a serious matter and requires attention and hard work from the community to carry out prevention, so that it can reduce the number of gender-based violence, therefore the Ministry of Health continues to strive to collaborate with partners to take responsibility for victims who experience violence in this country.
UNFPA as an NGO in Timor-Leste with the aim of collaborating with partners to be responsible for survivors who face gender-based violence, sexual and also emotional, then UNFPA comes with a compromise and also its mission and vision must eliminate gender-based violence, this vision is not only in Timor-Leste but globally, therefore struggling to create space and ensure women and girls also support health workers with good conditions to respond to gender-based violence effectively.
Reported by : Domingas
Picture by : Domingas