Non-governmental organizations are concerned about women’s rights in Timor-Leste and Sao Tome and Principe. Women suffer domestic violence, sexual violence and medical violence.
Timorese non-governmental organizations expressed their concern in Geneva about the lack of programs that promote gender equality, legal education for women and their rights to land tenure.
The representatives of the Fetus Network and Oxfam during a meeting of the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women which, in addition to Timor-Leste, analyzed the situation in Sao Tome and Principe, Germany and China.
Intervening in the meeting, and according to a note from the committee, Rede Feto took over the advances in the countrypointing out that there are still several gaps and aspects to improve regarding the rights of Timorese women.
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“It was recommended that the Government increase investment in the Secretary of State for Gender Inclusion, so that it has the capacity to defend policies and programs that promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in matters such as violence of gender, especially for women with disabilities and at the rural level”, explains the note.
The Timorese non-governmental organization (NGO) also considered it important to promote “the economic emancipation of women and their involvement in the fight against climate change”, being necessary to adopt “zero tolerance in relation to violence in schools and the adoption of a participatory approach in the promotion of egalitarian education”.
Finally, Rede Feto also defended the need to “promote gender parity with the judicial sector, including judges, prosecutors and police.”
Oxfam, for its part, referred to the rights of women farmers and those who depend on the land for their livelihood, noting that the Government has not advanced in gender analyzes related to land ownership.
The executive, the organization pointed out, considered that there is still “a current strategy to reinforce women’s rights in relation to land,” despite the approval of a transitory land expropriation law “that provides special protection to women “.
Despite the approval of that document, which recognized that “women and men should have the same rights to land”, the legislation was not implemented, and it is essential, considers Oxfam, that the Government proceed with a “complete analysis of the issues of gender and development”. of a national strategy for women’s rights to land, harmonizing the relevant legislation”.
In the case of Sao Tome and Principe, and also according to the committee, the interventions highlighted domestic violence, sexual violence and medical violence that affects women.
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The organization SOS Mulher pointed out, in its presentation, that the women of São Tomé are underrepresented in the Government and in the judiciary, explaining that around 28% of families They are run by single mothers.
“Three types of violence prevailed: domestic violence, sexual violence and medical violence. Domestic violence was the most prevalent in the country. Many women have lost body parts, such as fingers and arms, as a result of domestic violence committed against them by current and former partners,” the organization said.
“Financial abuse was a common form of domestic violence. Women suffered abuse when financially dependent on their male partners and were often treated as slaves. Sexual violence is also a great concern for society.
The organization affirms that women, girls and adolescents “were victims and were raped, sexually abused and intimate images and videos were published on social networks.”
In the case of “medical violence”, SOS Mulher aims to “lack of services and medical negligence”noting that “there is a great need to educate people about non-violent relationships and help women to be more empowered”.
Source: Observadora
