Dili, September 28, 2024 (Media Democracia) – The National Alliance for Combating Crimes against Infants in Timor-Leste, held a press conference to update data on infant abandonment cases in Timor-Leste starting from January to September 2024, some of which are already under investigation. The press conference was held at the FONGTIL Hall, Caicoli, Dili, on Friday.
Director of the National Alliance for Combating Crimes against Infants, José Turky said, ANCI-TL was established in 2024 with the mission of advocating for children’s issues and monitoring the process of handling cases of neglect in Timor Leste, because the case is a public phenomenon that is known to everyone.
“The Alliance as an organization whose role is more focused on infant problems (infant neglect) today actualizes the quarterly data recorded from January to October on infant cases, most cases of infant neglect are not new cases that occur in Timor-Leste, but have become a public phenomenon known to everyone. The National Alliance for Combanting Crimes against Infants was established in 2024 with two visions and missions, namely advocating for infant problems, collecting data and monitoring the process of cases that always occur.” Said Director, José Turky
He added that from January to September 2024 ANCI-TL had recorded cases of abandoned babies from Dili, Manufahi, and Bobonaru, of which Dili ranked highest in cases of baby abandonment.
“Currently, our environment has not accepted the reality like in the complex or sub-village when there is a girl who is pregnant does not get responsibility from her partner, always gets pressure from family and society, this can result in cases of infant abandonment and sometimes the mother can commit suicide. Based on data recorded by the Alliance from January to September there are three municipalities but Dili is the most compared to other municipalities.” He continued.
He emphasized that some of the cases registered by ANCI-TL are already in the judicial process and some are not because they are resolved based on the customary system. Therefore, ANCI-TL recommends that the National Parliament create a law that regulates cases of infant abandonment in several articles that regulate mothers who abandon their babies will be punished with up to 10 years in prison, but there is no law that seeks and punishes irresponsible fathers who cause mothers to abandon their babies.
Reported by : Basilio
Picture by : Basilio