UNTAET Daily Briefing 22 January 2002
UNITED NATIONS TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN EAST TIMOR
Dili, 22 January 2002
CHIEF MINISTER, SRSG SPEAK OUT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Chief Minister Marí Alkatiri and SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello led the launch today of a nationwide campaign against domestic violence with strong words of support for the women of East Timor.
While political and social violence have plummeted since 1999, domestic violence continues to fester, the SRSG said. In December, nearly 40 percent of all reported crime were cases of domestic violence or violence against women such as rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, according to UNTAET Civilian Police.
“This campaign is a concerted effort, with the support of all political and civil society leaders of East Timor, alongside law enforcement officials, to put an end to the one abhorrent practice that is still, unfortunately, prevalent in East Timor and many other countries of the world,’’ de Mello said.
“Domestic violence has become a cancer in this society, and we must, I repeat, we must put our heads together to eradicate it,’’ he added.
The campaign, organized by UNTAET’s Office of Communication and Public Information, aims to use television, radio and other media to disseminate information on domestic violence throughout each of East Timor’s 13 districts. The campaign works in concert with the Civilian Police’s Vulnerable Person’s Units in each district.
Deputy SRSG Dennis McNamara, Civilian Police Commissioner Peter Miller and Maria Fernandes, advisor to the Chief Minister on gender equality, also attended the campaign’s launch. Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo lent his voice to one of two public service announcements that will be broadcast on national television.
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