Paulina Quintao – Upset to the point of tears. That's how Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI) Idelta Maria Rodrigues felt when she met with child victims of sexual assault and incest at Dili shelter homes.
SE Rodrigues said she was devastated to meet the victims, the majority of whom were 13-years-old. She said the victims did not belong in such a place.
"They are forced to live in shelter homes with their babies where the nutrition is not good.I feel very sad when I meet them. They should be studying," SE Rodrigues said when she met the Women's Parliamentary Group at Maria Tapo, Kaikoli, Dili.
The Secretary of State promised that the government would support the victims through grants to women's organizations which provide victims with the means to start small businesses.
Member of Parliament (MP) Aurora Ximenes said cases of sexual assault and incest towards minors were a serious problem and one which the state must look into immediately.
The Actual Secretary for Women's Parliamentary Group (GMPTL) criticized incest accused who make declarations in court that the victim consented to the act.
"It's not logical and it is impossible a daughter wants to have a sex with her father," the Fretilin MP said.
She also lamented the lack of specific legislation prohibiting incest. "I think the government should look back at the penal code as the incest issue is a serious problem and the government must take action," MP Ximenes said.
MP Albina Marcal Freitas said the child victims need to live in shelter homes as the formal justice processes work slowly, with the offenders still at large.
She called on SEPI and the women's organizations to work harder in the society in order to combat violence against women and young girls.
"They should make a policy to reintegrate victims back into their families and integrate the victim into society so they can continue their study,"she said.