
Domingas and her family find harmony at home
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
A happy family is central to building a peaceful community. For many people, ‘home’ is identified as a safe and comfortable place. However, in Timor-Leste, home isn’t always a safe place for women. Over half of ever-partnered Timorese women have experienced violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Domingas is a housewife and a mother of two daughters, from Aileu Municipality. Her husband, Marcelino, never helped with household chores or taking care of their children. He often gambled and sometimes he was violent towards Domingas.
"I punched my wife and children when they tried to ask for money, so they were always afraid to ask for it when they needed to,” said Marcelino.