Viqueque, Timor-Leste 

The EU-UN Spotlight ‘Do No Harm’ workshop on ethical and safe approach when responding to cases of gender-based violence (GBV) was held in municipality of Viqueque, Timor-Leste. In collaboration with UNDP Timor-Leste, the ‘Do No Harm’ workshop has been conducted in three municipalities, Bobonaro, Ermera and Viqueque to support the local communities to adopt ‘Do No Harm’ approach, namely ethical and safe method when responding to cases of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The ‘Do No Harm’ workshop aims to promote better understanding of VAWG which interlinks with mental health of the survivors. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), local authorities and Justice Institutions that work closely on VAWG and GBV gave lectures, shared their hands-on experiences, and discussed about how to response and prevent VAWG with participants, including school teachers and students. 

Irene Kobesi works as the PNTL (Policia National Timor-Leste) First Sergeant in Vulnerable Person Unit (VPU), supporting survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). She said “I participated in the ‘Do No Harm’ workshop, because, as a VPU officer, my duty is to protect women and girls.” At the workshop, interconnections between VAWG and mental health of the survivors were underlined to understand the wider perspective of VAWG: survivors are harmed not only when they received violence, but also when they receive indiscreet questions about the sexual violence during the judicial process.