Say NO to Gender Based Violence in Timor Leste

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

Sexual and gender-based violence are severe problems inTimor Leste, which is recovering from a long-term conflict. Of those women that have experienced violence in their marriages, 77 per cent report that the violence has been severe. Also the attitudes towards the violence are harmful. Approximately 80 per cent of women and men think that a husband has a right to physically punish his partner under certain conditions. Likewise, punishment of children is common place. Plan works with local communities to change harmful attitudes and ending violence. Our voluntary youth discuss these harmful habits related to violence and gender-based violence particularly among adolescents. We aim to ensure that authorities recognise gender-based violence and have the capacities to interfere. Plan also improves the chance of women to get referred to shelters in Dili from the countryside.