Dili, October 14, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Students of the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FCSP) and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMCS) have held a press conference urging the Rector and the President of the Disciplinary Council to release the final decision and report regarding cases of sexual harassment that occurred within the university.
According to FCSP Association spokesperson Anatolia Maria da Cruz, the National University of Timor-Leste, as a state institution that serves as a space for learning, research, and community dedication, plays a vital role in developing science, technology, and culture in Timor-Leste.
“Therefore, UNTL must promote a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for all students, and must not tolerate any form of discrimination or violence against human rights, especially abuse of power, gender-based violence, sexual assault, or sexual harassment against female students,” stated Anatolia Maria da Cruz.
The spokesperson revealed that female students from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, particularly the Department of Public Policy (DPP), and from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences had experienced sexual harassment by their own lecturers, which degraded their dignity, made them feel unsafe in their learning environment, and in some cases even caused them to drop out.
“The victims have already reported the sexual predators and offenders who committed harassment and violated their rights, but the university’s structure has failed to promptly process the accused, and there has been no transparency regarding the outcomes of these decisions,” she explained.
Through the press release, the student associations of FCSP, FMCS, and UNTL collectively urged the Rector and the President of the Disciplinary Council to disclose the results of the disciplinary council’s final decision and report concerning the sexual harassment case that occurred in FMCS, as there has been no significant response to date.
They also demanded that disciplinary sanctions be imposed on the Director of the Midwifery Department, who allegedly abused her power by illegally suspending three students without consulting the Disciplinary Council.
“We call on the Rector and the Disciplinary Council to establish an impartial, independent, and professional inquiry commission to investigate the sexual harassment case within FCSP, particularly in the Department of Public Policy. We also call for transparency regarding the outcomes of decisions related to these cases, and for the university to impose strict disciplinary action on the sexual predators within FCSP and DPP. Furthermore, we demand that the university forward these cases to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for legal processing,” stated Anatolia Maria da Cruz.
She concluded that if the university’s structure fails to meet these demands, student associations from FCSP and FMCS will mobilize active students and alumni to take action against the university’s leadership.
“Universities are places for learning, not prostitution centers to satisfy sexual desires. There must be zero tolerance for sexual harassment within the university,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, FMCS Student Senate representative Ronaldo Rego explained that regarding the issue, the Rector has already collaborated with relevant commissions and investigation bodies, and discussions have taken place within the Disciplinary Council with participation from ten Deans representing all faculties at the university.
“The case that occurred in the Faculty of Medicine is still being processed. The student senate, together with students, submitted a petition to the Rector. Following that, the Rector referred the case to an investigative commission and the Disciplinary Council. Although discussions have been held, as students and senate members we are dissatisfied with the entire process, since no result has yet been made public,” Rego told journalists at the Dili campus.
He added that reports from the FMCS Faculty have already been submitted to the Rector and the investigation commission at UNTL, yet no results have been released. Students believe that the Rector may have recently signed an agreement with organizations monitoring these cases, possibly to help resolve sexual harassment cases within the faculties.
“I believe that the Rector and the Vice-Rector responsible for addressing sexual harassment promotion initiatives should not remain silent. We expect that with the agreements signed, the Rector and his team will ensure these cases are not buried. We continue to call on the Vice-Rector to strengthen promotion efforts against sexual harassment and to ensure that the university remains a safe space for students. Collaboration with relevant institutions must not stop at student training alone, lecturers must also receive training on prevention,” said Rego.
He emphasized that students are still waiting for the full results of the commission and rector’s investigations. “If no outcome is released, the student senate and the victims will take the case directly to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the courts,” he affirmed.
“We believe we must unite our strength to eliminate sexual predators who feel free to roam within this campus. We know that the Ministry of Higher Education has already drafted a framework for zero tolerance of sexual harassment on campus, but in practice, it is still lecturers and predators who commit sexual harassment against our fellow female students at UNTL, particularly in FMCS and FCSP’s Department of Public Policy. Therefore, we must firmly say no to sexual harassment and remove these predators from our university,” he added.
He concluded by saying that based on the evidence and testimonies submitted by the victims to the two faculty senates, there is a firm commitment to pursue the case. “If the Rector, his structure, and the investigation commission fail to produce results soon, students will mobilize and unite their forces to confront the Rector and demand a clear position regarding this case,” he said.
Report: Domingas
Photo: Domingas