40% of all reported crime
1 in 3
WHO's global prevalence figures indicate that worldwide 35% of women have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
In Timor-Leste this experience is higher than the global average with 38% of women experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
In 2013, East Timorese NGO, the Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP) reported that domestic violence cases now constitute the largest category of criminal cases that they monitor.
Violence against women accounts for 40% of all reported crime in Timor-Leste. While this figure is startling, it may not reflect the true extent of violence perpetrated within the community.
The Demographic and Health Survey 2009-2010, conducted by the National Statistics Directorate, found that 81% of surveyed men believed using domestic violence was justfiable certain circumstances.
This reveals an urgent need for programs to counter the normalisation of domestic violence and educate men and communities that its use is never acceptable.
In 2003, the International Rescue Committee Study found that 51 per cent of married Timorese women consulted in the last 12 months said they felt unsafe in their relationship.
Sadly, women are most at risk of violence perpetrated by someone they know, usually within the home.
81% of men
51% feel unsafe in their relationship
Violence against women and children in Timor
Violence against women and children is a global issue that transcends race, class, age and socio-economic status. In Timor Leste, domestic violence is a serious violation of women's rights and a major barrier to the country's development. Preventing it is everybody's issue.
Due to on-going stigmatisation and an entrenched culture of impunity, exact statistics on the prevalence of violence against women and girls in Timor-Leste is lacking. Below is a snap shot of the issue, provided by various sources.
