DILI (UCAN): The top education officials in Timor-Leste have warned of stern punitive action against teachers if students face sexual abuse from them in schools.
Following two recent abuse scandals in schools involving school directors, minister for Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, said the government will not tolerate sexual abuses committed in schools.
At a press meeting at the Education Ministry office in Dili, on February 28, Soares said, “Those who committed sexual abuse will be suspended from their teaching activity, and they will face disciplinary action, also investigation to hold them accountable.”
Among others present at the press conference were secretary of state for Gender Equality, Elvina Sousa Carvalho, and president of the National Institute for Child Rights Protection Dinorah Granadeiro.
Carvalho said that “sexual abuse, whether happening in school or else, will not be tolerated. School is supposedly a venue for pupils to study. I will follow the case closely and provide support for the victims.”
Granadeiro strongly condemned the sexual abuses.
Those who committed sexual abuse will be suspended from their teaching activity, and they will face disciplinary action, also investigation to hold them accountable
Dulce de Jesus Soares
“Teachers are supposed to be protectors and educators of children in school, not become sexual abuse perpetrators,” she said.
The government response came a day after a student’s mother, Estefania Barreto Cardoso, held a press conference saying her daughter faced sexual violence in Nicolao Lobato Public School.
Cardoso told reporters that the school director called her daughter to his office and “abused my child. But she managed to open the office’s door and run out.”
In the second case, a student was allegedly offered US$50 by the school director to go to “an empty house” with him. The student’s family reported the case to the police.
Both schools have not responded to the allegations. The accused were also not available to comment.
Teachers are supposed to be protectors and educators of children in school, not become sexual abuse perpetrators
Dulce de Jesus Soares
Abuse of minors, especially females, is widespread in Timor-Leste, according to UNICEF. Two out of three women aged 15-19 experienced physical or sexual violence, it noted. Cases of sexual violence are under-reported.
Timor-Leste made global headlines in recent times due to sex abuse scandals involving two high-profile members of Catholic clergy.
In 2021, a court sentenced 84-year-old defrocked American priest Richard Daschbach for abusing and raping four minors in an orphanage he managed.
Daschbach, who spent decades in the country, is respected for his role in promoting social welfare and development. He is known to have close ties with Timorese political elites, including current prime minister, Xanana Gusmao.
In 2022, the Vatican revealed that it imposed sanctions on former apostolilc administator, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, for “the serious crimes” during his time in Fatumaca and Díli, including restrictions on his movements, the exercise of his ministry as well as prohibiting him from having contact with children. The move came after Dutch newspaper, De Groene Amsterdammer [The Green Amsterdammer], published an article that accused the 77-year-old bishop of abusing boys for more than 20 years.
