Lenten Stories

Week 2: Safe Rooms in East Timor

Click here to download a PDF of this article

Lower Primary School (137Kb PDF)
Upper Primary School (244Kb PDF)
Secondary School (274Kb PDF)

Luisa is from Dili in East Timor. In April 1999 Luisa's life was changed forever. She was working as a nurse and midwife in Gelno, expecting her fi fth child, when the referendum for an Independent East Timor took place.

During this time the militia and the military undertook a campaign of terror and intimidation on the people in the hope to infl uence the upcoming vote. Luisa's husband was killed and her home was burnt by the militia. She then moved her family to Dili to live with relatives.

After the announcement of Independence in September 1999 violence erupted again. Luisa and her children fl ed to the UNAMET (United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor) compound in Matadoru for safety and were evacuated to a refugee safe haven in Sydney, Australia.

Whilst in Sydney, Luisa was given the opportunity to receive training in trauma counselling. Having experienced trauma fi rst hand she was able to work with others, helping them to talk about their own personal experiences.

After returning home in June 2000, Luisa joined PRADET (Program for Psychosocial Recovery and Development in East Timor) Timor Lorosae, working as a counsellor supporting survivors of violence, (including domestic and sexual).

"Independence meant we had to rebuild our own country but fi rst we needed to rebuild our broken people," said Luisa.

Sadly rape and sexual assault were used as a form of cruelty against women by the Indonesian military in East Timor.

As many survivors of sexual violence did not attempt to seek help because of the stigma attached there was a great need for counselling and community education in this area. Luisa conducted trainings for the community where she provided information and advice on how communities and individuals could assist a survivor of violence.

The Caritas Australia Human Rights Law and Justice Program has been working on the issue of sexual violence since 2001. Caritas Australia was one of the fi rst organisations to form a team to develop culturally appropriate training to address local community groups on the issue. By 2005 the program had moved towards strategies to prevent sexual violence and strengthen survivors.

In April 2005 Luisa approached Caritas Australia to discuss the possibility of building a safe room at Dili National Hospital. A safe room is a place where survivors of domestic and sexual violence can go to undertake medical and forensic examinations in privacy.

Caritas Australia Human Rights Law and Justice Program signed an agreement with PRADET Timor Lorosae to work as partners to build the new safe room at Dili National Hospital. Today Luisa works as a counsellor at the safe room.

"Working in partnership with Caritas Australia's Human Rights and Justice Program has given me new opportunities to expand my knowledge and help assist the survivors of violence," Luisa said.

As well as completion of the safe room, Caritas Australia assisted in developing and printing pamphlets about the facility in the local language which have been distributed to organisations, police stations, health clinics and hospitals throughout East Timor as a way of promoting the service. Caritas Australia is now providing support for a second safe room to be built in Oecussi, East Timor.

Your donation to Project Compassion will allow Caritas Australia to continue to provide support for the people of East Timor as they rebuild their lives.