Communication Strategies for Preventing Violence against Women in Timor-Leste: a case analysis

In Timor-Leste, violence against women is customary and domestic violence (DV) is the most common form of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV). According to statistics (DNE, 2010), 40 per cent of young girls and women, between ages of 15 and 49, experienced some form physical and sexual violence. However, these figures do not illustrate the reality. Change behaviours and promote social change are not an easy task. It takes time, method and must be persistence. In an in-deep patriarchal and post-conflict country like Timor-Leste, gender equality and women rights are hard to be understood and accepted (Niner, 2012). After years of intense work from organizations of Timorese women, with the support of international organizations, some changes are visible. But must more need to be done and communication can have a crucial role. Therefore, this study explores the communication strategies implemented in Timor-Leste on prevention of violence against women, in particular domestic violence. Since Communication for Development is a new field in Portugal, this dissertation begins by describing the evolution of theories and approaches. It follows an analysis of the communication strategies implemented for prevention of gender-based violence (GBV), presenting some case studies worldwide. After addressing Timor-Leste landscape, this study stresses communication strategies applied on prevention of domestic violence over the last decade in the youngest nation of South Asia. It reviews gaps, challenges and successful cases. This study withdraws lessons from recent past, and suggests a new communication approach for C4D: Communication for Social Inclusion (CSI), based on holistic and people-centred approach with the objective of creating positive social norms and values for sustainable changes.