Paulina Quintao – Legal Assistance for Women and Children (ALFeLa) coordinator Laura Afonso de Jesus says resolving domestic violence criminal proceedings using methods of traditional justice is beneficial only to the perpetrators of the crimes, not to their victims.
Timorese laws dictate that domestic violence is a public crime and should be resolved through formal court proceedings.
"I don't think traditional justice is of benefit to the victims but (is beneficial) to the family and the suspects instead, because the victims continue to be victims," de Jesus said in her role as a spokes woman in a debate on traditional versus formal justice in cases of domestic violence, held at the Timor Hotel, Dili.
She advocated for victims to bring their cases to trial as although such methods often took longer, the perpetrators were aware they were not to do any harm to women again. She said many victims of domestic violence were reluctant to bring cases to trial as their financial security was dependent on the men who abused them.
Parliamentary Women's Group (GMPTL) deputy president Member of Parliament (MP) Albina Marcal, one of the spokes women of the debate, said many victims chose to revolve cases using traditional justice as it was the easier option. "Resolving cases using formal justice can take a long time and some cases are left pending," she said.
However, she encouraged victims of domestic violence to bring their cases to trial so the perpetrator scan be punished. "For women who are victims; don't be reluctant to raise your concerns attrial because there will be many people supporting you receive justice," MP Marcal said.
She recognized organization Ba Futura which organized the debate which highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of traditional and formal justice methods.
Ba Futuru director Juliana Oliveira Marcal said the public discussion was held to gather information from all entities about the advantages and disadvantages of both systems implemented in Timor-Leste. "Timor-Leste has criminalized violent actions within family life as public crimes," she said.
However, she said the choice between traditional and formal justice was an individual decision. "We're not about to get rid of the traditional system but we want both systems to be of benefit to the victims," Marcal said. The outcome of the debate will provided to the relevant government institution, she said.