The annual observance of the International Day of Families reflects the importance the international community attaches to families and is an opportunity to demonstrate support to families. The 2015 observance of the International Day of Families aims to raise awareness and mobilize support for action to ensure gender equality and rights of children within families and prevent family violence through fair family law frameworks and a variety of programme interventions.
The Government of Timor-Leste promulgated the Law Against Domestic Violence (LADV) in 2010. This law defined domestic violence as a public crime and included physical, psychological, sexual and economic violence as prohibited forms of violence. By doing so, the government of Timor-Leste has taken a strong position- justifying domestic violence as a ‘normal' and ‘private' matter is no longer acceptable. The public status of the crime requires the state to respond to domestic violence whether a victim files a criminal complaint or not.
Programme interventions focusing on men and boys contribute to violence prevention. Such programmes are especially effective if they are part of fair justice system, when they are connected to community and accompanied by adequate support and protection of women survivors of violence. Community approaches to hold men accountable for gender-based violence help with changing community norms and help communities and victims recover from violence.
Prevention is the most cost effective strategy to address different forms of violence in the family. Prevention of violence in families contributes to gender equality and better outcomes for children, contributing to the achievement of development goals. The design, development, implementation and monitoring of family-oriented policies and programmes are essential for the success in achieving several goals of the draft post-2015 development agenda. These include ensuring healthy lives, promoting well-being for all ages, achieving of gender equality, empowering all women and girls as well as providing of access to justice for all.
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For more information, please contact:
Fitsum Tesfaye
Communications Officer
United Nations Population Fund
UN House, Caicoli Street
Dili, Timor-Leste
Tel: +670-3312 618 (ext. 2164)
Mobile: +670-78536670
Twitter: @UNFPATimor
Facebook: UNFPATL
