Venidora Oliveira – Members of Parliament have called for protection detail to be available to female justice officials when serving court summons.

Commission F (health, education, culture, veterans' affairs and gender equality) member Eladio Faculto said justice officials needed protection.

"Sometimes the accused men refuse to offer themselves and they may be angry and shout at the justice officials. It is complicated," Faculto said. These situations could pose threats to justice officials' lives.

Judicial System Monitoring Program executive director Luis Oliveira Sampaio agreed with the call for protective measures. "There has been no co-ordination and inadequate protection for them so far," he said.

Dili District Court judge administrator Duarte Tilman said he did not believe officials were at risk. "The security is that people will comply with the laws," he said.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/gender/13161-female-justice-officials-need-protection