Dili, 26 January 2026 (Média Democracia) – JSMP press release regarding the dili district court’s inspiring signifikant change during the trial of sexual abuse case againts a 12 years-old minor, held on December 11, 2025. During the Trial the collective intervened and asked to the defense to avoid irrelevant questions related to the sexual abuse case against the minor. The release was accessed trough JSMP’s page this week.
Executive Director of JSMP Ana Paula Marçal stated in the realease that the judge’s intervention ocurred when the defende/lawyer asked questions that tended to blame the victim, justifying and rationalizing the crime committed by acused.
“JSMP continues to review the posotive evolution and transformation regarding the trial of sexual abuses cases against minor and gender based on violence, and consider that efforts should continue to be strengthened further to maintain these good practices and be institutionalized to inspire futher change at the institutional level.”said JSMP Executive Director Ana Paula Marçal.
JSMP Director observes that, during the trial, the defense asked the victim leading questions “did you scream or not, why didn’t you scream?” JSMP believes that this question and approach is not only irrelevant because the case involves abuse against a minor, but also contains gender stereotype nature.
“Question like these form an opinion and conclusion that if the victim didn’t scream, it means the victim was consesting to the abuse JSMP often reviews such questions and expressions in trials involving gender-based violence. However, the impressive and commendable gesture was that during the process, the question, preventing space for futher susch questions.” said JSMP Executive Director.
Executive director emphasizes, this good practice should happen in trials of crimes with sexual violence nature, because in some of cases, some judges themselves ask similar questions as the defense presents. JSMP encourages thesemdevelopments and good practices to continue in the future, especially judges who play a central and decisive role in deirecting and guiding the process to ensure justice foa all.
“Based on such experience, JSMP appeals and encourages the Government and relevant entities such as Secretary of State For Equality (SEI) to collaborate to identity relevant matters and promote training focused on cases are the most registered an tried in court in recent years. Especially, JSMP encourages training on gender based violence to cover the entire justice secto, including defenders and lawyers.” Emphasizes the Director.
The director reported that in this case, the defendant was allegedly involveld in the crime of sexual abuse against a minor in December 2020, when families gathered at a family even to build a new house in Ermera.
Futher Explains regarding the case, which is registered in the court with Process No.: 0002/21 ERLHT. The trial was presided over by a collective judge represented by Dr.José Maria Araújo, Dra. Ana Paula Fonseca, and Dra. Ersilia de Jesu. The prosecutr was represented by Dr. Ricardo Godinho Leit, and the accused was defended by Dr. hnerique João Mariz as a public defender.
Reporting : Nelfiano
Photo : Media JSMP