Dili, November 6, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The Timor-Leste Women’s Network (RFTL, abbreviated in Tetum) launched the facilitation of the Gender and Family Economy Manual for Pre-Marriage in conjunction with the opening of the “Hakbiit Feto” shop at the RFTL office. This activity was held on Tuesday.
RFTL Board President Director, Zelia Fernandes said that for years RFTL has been advocating for the prevention of Gender Based Violence through several means.
“All of you who have witnessed in public that so far we have been doing very strong advocacy for the prevention of Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, while there have been various legal efforts that have been made,” said the President Director of RFTL to reporters at the RFTL office.
Efforts to create an Anti-Domestic Violence Law and also create initiatives that highlight that everyone contributes to preventing Gender-Based Violence through socialization, conferences and seminars that have been widely carried out in order to contribute to preventing various forms of violence against women.
She emphasized that cases of domestic violence continue to exist, for this reason RFTL is collaborating with the church in the Pre-marriage program.
“It is also important how it can be integrated with the church for premarital programs because in the church we see that before couples who want to get married or want to build a household must go through a premarital briefing process, so it is interesting how this premarital guidebook combines religious and family values, how to strengthen the family culturally.” She said.
Therefore, combining these two values can strengthen Gender Based Violence prevention initiatives.
She said, regarding this matter, RFTL conducted consultations with the Maliana Diocese including a number of Parishes which received positive responses.
“After we had this topic, we consulted with the Aimutin Parish and others and the Maliana Diocese, when we consulted we got good input, almost all pastoral counseling appreciated this initiative. They thought this initiative was good to be combined with the training carried out in the church section.” She said
Therefore, through this positive response, the church asked to add two more things about Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence to strengthen to this manual.
Meanwhile, through this idea, RFTL has started to introduce this Manual in several parishes which received good appreciation for this initiative and in the short term will disseminate this manual.
She also added that this manual can be used for future training.
“This manual does not just stay here, but can be used for trainings that will be held, because we see that cases of Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence do not just happen, but start from miscommunication or disharmony in communication within the family which results in a lack of mutual respect within the family even though they have taken vows in church but in the end domestic violence still occurs.” She added.
In addition, this Premarital Guidebook is to strengthen how to strengthen faith between families, respect each other and understand about reproductive organs that need to be protected and prevented in sensitive areas to prevent Gender-Based Violence.
Therefore, RFTL will continue to communicate with the church so that it can conduct outreach in training in the church, especially for Catholics who want to build a household.
Reported by : Estefania
Photo by : Estefania