The National Director for Social Assistance said the government doesn't have plans to build more shelter homes for victims of gender based violence but will continue to give financial support to develop existing shelter houses.

National Director for Social Assistance Antonia Carmen da Cruz, from the Ministry of Social Solidarity, said the were many gender based violence victims within the Casa Vida shelter home, especially minors.

"It's true that in reality the shelter home receives young victims and we have just one Casa Vida, so we're looking for how to work together with Casa Vida on this," said Director da Cruz (06/02) in Bemori, Dili.

She said to make a permanent shelter home they needed to study the situation.

In another part, Casa Vida Coordinator DomingasSoares said that they had a plan to create more shelter homes this year because there were so many victims staying in Casa Vida currently.

"We do not follow the government's standard that's why we accommodate 55 people currently, we have four shelter homes and for each we allocate five, three and 14 victims," said Coordinator Soares.

In response to questions, Director da Cruz said that the government would look into the situation at Casa Vida but not this year.

"Because to build a house we need to deal with many administrative processes related to land, so we will put it off until 2014 but support other programs in place following the proposal we have," said Director da Cruz.

As well as giving financial support to the organizations thatassist victims, the government also has a plan to work with families and the community to protect women and children from violence.

There are currently seven shelter homes in Timor-Leste that accommodate victims of gender based violence, including RogerioShelter Home in Lospalos, Paz Shelter Home in Baucau, Casa Vida and FOKUPERS in Dili, Salele in Suai, Maria Tapo in Maliana and another shelter home in Oe-Cusse.