Dili, December 9, 2021 -- As part of activities to mark 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, General Directorate of Statistics (GDS) in Timor-Leste in partnership with UNFPA through the Spotlight Initiative -- a multi-year parnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls -- conducted a five-day training on data literacy at the Viqueque Municipality Hall in Viqueque, Timor-Leste.

The data literacy training was the third in a series of trainings to be conducted in four target municipalities of the Spotlight Initiative (Ermera, Bobonaro, Viqueque and Dili).

Over 40 participants from Non-Governmental Organizations and relevant government ministries took part in the training held from November 29 to December 3. The next training is scheduled to take place in Dili from 13-17 December 2021.

In his opening speech during the data literacy training -- delivered by Dr. Amelia Barreto, Programme Analyst at UNFPA -- Mr. Ronny Lindstrom, UNFPA Timor-Leste Country Representative highlighted the importance of data literacy to present evidence, and raise awareness and understanding about gender-based violence.

“This training on data literacy on gender-based violence is a very important step to ensure availability of data that is reliable, of quality and updated. We hope that after the training you will produce your own data and apply it in your programs to end gender based violence in Timor-Leste,” Mr. Ronny Lindstrom said.

UNFPA Timor-Leste continue to support GDS to produce quality and reliable data for the elimination of gender-based violence in Timor-Leste.

Similarly, Mr. Januario Soares, President of the Municipal Authority of Viqueque, emphasized the need to ensure credibility of gender-based violence data to help eliminate the vice even as one in three women are subjected to physical and sexual violence across their lifetime.

“If we do sensitization for the elimination of gender-based violence and we don't have data, it means we can't know our progress,” said Mr. Januario Soares.

Mr. Ricardo da Cruz, National Director of Meteorology and Data Collection observed that gaps exist in gender-based violence data management system that needs to rectified to end gender-based violence.

‘’Data literacy training will help us address the existing gaps in gender-based violence Data Management System which is a barrier to analyzing the proportion of gender-based violence data.

“This training aligns with the GBV National Action Plan and will strengthen use of quality and reliable data to help us prepare a plan and response based on the facts to eliminate gender-based violence in Timor-Leste,” said Mr. Ricardo da Cruz.

The 16 Days of Activism campaign, marked every year from November 25 to December 10 (World Human Rights Day), calls for action against gender-based violence and other human rights violations.

For more information contact:

Suleiman Okoth

Communications and Programme Support Specialist
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Timor-Leste

UN House, Caicoli Street
Dili, Timor-Leste

Mobile: +670 75169796
WhatsApp: +254 780534026

Email; okoth@unfpa.org