Paulina Quintao – Poor family education is contributing to high rates of infanticide in Timor-Leste, and in particular in Dili, according to Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI) Idelta Maria Rodrigues.

Rodrigues said families have a responsibility to educate and supervise their daughters to give them good prospects in life.

"Families must provide supervision and watch out for difficulties faced by their children. The same goes for the children – they must find a way to feel comfortable to talk to their families. If they hide their problems, those problems will explode and women and children will be the victims," she said in Kaikoli, Dili.

Rodrigues said the problem of parents abandoning their newborns was a serious problem, with instances almost every year.

The problem was not only confined to Dili but also happened in the districts, she said. "Taking a person's life is crime. I ask the police to investigate thoroughly these cases and bring perpetrators to justice," he said.

Arao Noe de Jesus Amaral called on parents to educate their children about sex. "The role of family is very important. They must monitor their children's behavior and must not be shy about providing sexual education to their children so they understand the consequences of sex," Noe said.

Timorese youth Agostinha said she was unaware that this problem existed but that the issue should be investigated thoroughly so it could be combatted.

She said the investigation should call families' attention to protecting their children and in the event that sexual violence or incest was involved, the perpetrators of these acts should be punished, not just the mothers of children dumped.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/gender/12594-education-key-to-preventing-infanticide