Venidora Oliveira – The Rural Women's Group in Baucau district have complained about the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality's programs, which are just implemented at the district level and do not reach the villages and sub-villages.

Head of the Rural Women's Group in Baucau district, Rita Freitas, said many women in rural areas still lacked information, as many had only completed junior high school.

She said many women lacked information about justice, especially about domestic violence. "SEPI should implement its programs so they reach the villages and rural areas, not just in the district capital," Freitas suggested.

She added sometimes women's cases were taken to court but some were still pending. "SEPI should look into these issues, as women find it hard to get real justice," she said.

On the other hand, Member of Parliament Josefa Alvares Soares recognized that SEPI's programs had only been implemented in Dili and the district level, never in remote areas.

"We want to find a good one, so maybe, let's go to remote areas, as we see that women in remote areas lack access to information and health assistance, many women die in childbirth," Soares said.

In response to this concern, Secretary of State Idelta Maria Rodrigues said women in rural areas didn't know a lot about what was happening within the district.

"At the district level we have a gender working group and we also have a focal point, now we have problems but they don't only face SEPI," Secretary of State Rodrigues said.

She said SEPI staff set the systems in the districts, so rural women should follow up the information published at the district level.