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Dili: Hivos, Forum Komunikasaun Ba Feto Timor Leste (Fokupers), and Asosiasaun Chega! Ba Ita (ACbit) held a national workshop and seminar at the Salo de So Jos Catedral on 28 July 2022 to increase public awareness of the needs and challenges faced by women survivors of violence. Titled Building Connection for the Social Inclusion and Economic Empowerment of Women Survivors of Violence, this event was coordinated by Hivos with the financial support from the European Union (EU) as part of the Reforsa Hamutuk project, implemented in seven districts: Ainaro, Baucau, Dili, Ermera, Liquica, Manufahi, and Oecusse.

Opening the event, Ms. Karla Leitzke, the Programme Officer for Civil Society, Democracy & Human Rights, and Gender of the European Union Delegation in Timor-Leste, stated that, For the European Union the connection between economic empowerment and the inclusion of women survivors of violence is crucial. This combination contributes to women having a livelihood to raise their family, have a decent life, and empower themselves financially. That is why we are so proud to support these amazing Timorese women, and celebrate their stories today.

This event provided an opportunity for two women survivors to share their stories, followed by presentations from Ms. Manuela Leong Pereira, the Executive Director of ACbit, on the initiatives done by civil society organisations to support women survivors, Mr. Rui Pacheco, the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Timor-Leste (CCI-TL), on CCI-TL programmes accessible by women, and Ms. Natalina Maria Amaral da Costa, the National Director of Internal Commerce of the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, and Industry, on MTCI programmes to support women.

Ms. Luciana Martins dos Santos, one of the women survivors present, stated that she hopes, We, women survivors, have experienced various forms of violence in the past, and have not received the support that we need. The government must support us.

Ms. Manuela Leong Pereira from ACbit described the challenges faced by CSOs supporting women survivors social inclusion and economic empowerment as, The lack of family support for women, so that they can access opportunities to participate in trainings. It includes the domestic workload always considered the exclusive responsibility of women in the family, and limited access to capital due to lack of trust in women managing loaned funds.

Speaking about how people can support women survivors social inclusion and economic empowerment, Ms. Maria Fatima Pereira Guterres, the Executive Director of Fokupers, stated that, Every person, every institution has the responsibility to stop violence against women. Among the strategies are trainings for economic empowerment. We are hoping that all our CSO and development partners, as well as key ministries, would continue to collaborate in a long term, and put women survivors and victims needs at the center of action planning, and allocate adequate budget for the programmes.

The event was followed by a round table discussion in the afternoon, and closed with the awarding of an Accelerator Grant for three microbusinesses owned and managed by women micro entrepreneurs.

Reforsa Hamutuk Stronger Together is a 30-month project financed through a European Union contribution of 550,000 USD (500,000 EUR), and implemented by Hivos in collaboration with Fokupers and ACbit, to promote social inclusion and economic development of women survivors and victims of violence in Timor-Leste.

About the Reforsa Hamutuk Project implementing organisations:

Hivos is an international development organisation that seeks new solutions to persistent global issues. Founded in 1968 and inspired by humanist values, Hivos works in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East at a local, regional and global level, together with local civil society organisations in developing countries to contribute to a free, fair and sustainable world. Through smart projects in the right places, Hivos opposes discrimination, inequality, abuse of power and the unsustainable use of resources. For more information, visit: https://sea.hivos.org/

Forum Komunikasaun ba Feto Timor-Leste (Fokupers) is a non-governmental organisation in Dili, Timor-Leste focusing on womens right. It was established in 1997 to address GBV and human rights violations against women and children, particularly those committed at the time of the Indonesian occupation. Their current works include victim services; non-gender based early childhood education, advocacy, and women empowermentboth in the community and in Timor-Leste as a nation. For more information, visit: https://fokupers.org/

Asosiasaun Chega! Ba Ita (ACbit) is a non-governmental organisation that aims to promote the values and principles underpinning the work of the CAVRhuman rights, justice and reconciliation. Established in 2010 in Dili, Timor-Leste, ACbit focuses on advocacy for victims rights. ACbit provides training, technical assistance, support groups, and trauma healing for women victims of past conflict and their families, and creating networks of past and current victims of GBV to break the chains of impunity. For more information, visit: https://chegabaita.org/

Link:
Hivos, Fokupers, and ACbit are building connections to support women survivors of violence through the European Union's Reforsa Hamutuk project | EEAS...