Dili, September 29, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Secretary of State for Equality (SEI), the Ministry of Justice, together with the Technical Legal Working Team composed of legal technicians from the Ministry of Justice and civil society representatives from TAF-Nabilan, Fokupers, ALFeLa, Alola Foundation, and JSMP, held a meeting to present the final draft revision of the Law Against Domestic Violence in Timor-Leste. According to Média Democracia, the presentation of the draft revision was accessed through SEI’s page today.
The Secretary of State for Equality (SEI), Elvina Sousa Carvalho, congratulated the Legal Technical Working Team who made up almost entirely of Timorese and requested them to prepare a justification note for each amendment and revision to every article before submitting it to the Council of Ministers and later to the National Parliament.
“The Law against Domestic Violence has existed for more than fourteen years, since Law No. 7/2010 of 7 July. Therefore, it is now time to revise it, especially the articles that no longer reflect the current reality,” said the Secretary of State for Equality, Elvina Sousa Carvalho.
She further explained that it is necessary to harmonize definitions and articles within the implementation of the Law against Domestic Violence, and to ensure the law becomes more effective in its application in order to reduce and combat domestic violence in the future.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, who participated in the presentation and discussions with the working group on the preliminary report concerning the Law Against Domestic Violence (LKVD in Tetum), highlighted the importance of collective deliberation:
“Today, we were able to sit together, and in this way, we can consider possible revocations or amendments to the proposed revisions on the Law against Domestic Violence,” said Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai.
He added that this working team is consolidated and integrated, including General Directors, National Directors, and partner organizations such as Legal Assistance for Women and Children (ALFeLa), The Asia Foundation (TAF) Nabilan, Rede Feto, Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP), FOKUPERS, among others.
The preliminary report presented also included a proposal for amendments to the Law against Domestic Violence, focusing particularly on the concept of the crime of incest, in order to strengthen family protection and prevention in Timor-Leste. The working group consists of representatives from the Ministry of Justice through the National Directorate for Legal Advisory and Legislation, the Secretary of State for Equality, and strategic partners in national development.
Reporter: Nelfiano
Photo: Media SEI