1. PRESENTATION
Timor-Leste
2-5th Sept, 2012 , Asia Shelter Networking
Ministry of Social Solidarity

2. Introduction of Agency
 The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS), under the IV
Constitutional Government mandate has the responsibility to
work on the issues of Social Solidarity-namely Social
Assistance for the Poor and Vulnerable; Social Re-integration;
Social Security for the needy; Disaster Risk Management and
the Affairs of National Liberation Combatants

3. Mission of MSS:
• Promote Solidarity and social assistance to all;
• Guarantee Social Security to all; reinsertion to
vulnerable groups;
• Recognise and valorise the former members of
National Liberation Movement;
• Assure protection of human lives, assets and
environment from disasters;
• Organisation Development through institution
building efforts

4. Historical background of shelter in
Timor-Leste
• The establishment of “shelter” in Timor-Leste has a long
history, dating back to the Indonesian occupancy in this
country between 1975 and 1999.
• In August 1999, the first shelter in the country was
established by Fokupers to provide a safe haven for the
survivors of violence. The conception of shelter was shaped
by the understanding of human rights protection, which
emerged under the influence of a group of young Timorese
supporters such as Maria Domingas Fernandes Alves, who
were affiliated with an Indonesian activist, Galuh Wandita
during the Reformasi Indonesia period.

5. Overview of shelters
There are 9 shelters in the entire country.
The types of responses provided by shelters listed on the table above are categorized as
Emergency Care Intervention
• Safe accommodation for survivors for a maximum of 3 days
• It focuses on providing a safe environment while the immediate crisis resolves
Temporary Care
• Provision of accommodation for the duration between 3 and 6 months.
• It focuses on rehabilitating survivors to facilitate recovery from trauma
Long-Term Care
• Provided to those who cannot be re-integrated with their families or with their community
• Focuses on building the resiliency of survivors to lead an independent living until a permanent
solution is sought.

6. Profiles of Clients
Target group
The target group of the efforts undertaken by shelters in the context of
providing safe space is described as follows:
 Women survivors of violence (violence can be sexual, physical, or
psychological) and perpetrated outside the family, that is social
violence.
 Women survivors of violence (violence can be sexual, physical, or
psychological) and perpetrated inside the family, which is domestic
violence.
 Boys who are suspects of who have been alleged for juvenile
delinquency.
 Street children who are at risk of violence and economic exploitation.
 Human trafficking survivors

7. Services offered by shelters
 Case Management
 Assist survivors for medical and forensic treatment and
examination
 Provide individual counselling
 Provide group counselling for families of survivors
 Accompanies and support survivors during meetings
with the police and court officials
 Facilitate transfer to a new location as required and
requested by survivors

8. Challenges faced in the delivery of
shelter services
Lack of social-reintegration strategies
Lack of mechanism to register basic data of
clients
Lack of shelter to accommodate GBV survivors
who are physically challenges and mentally ill
No. of trained professionals, e.g., social workers
and counsellors specialized in trauma support
who can conduct preliminary assessment of
clients and case management needs to increase;

9. Background of MSS work in relation
to shelter intervention
 In conjunction with Article 15 & 16 of the Law
against Domestic Violence, the Government of
Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Social
Solidarity (MSS) is responsible to establish,
manage and oversee the national network of
support centers for victims of domestic violence
and GBV.
 These centres shall be responsible for providing
direct assistance, shelter and counselling to
victims.

10. Progress Achieved
• To date, in pursuant to the Law against Domestic
Violence and the GBV National Action Plan, MSS
has undertaken the below interventions to fulfill
its responsibilities.
• MSS has developed technical guidelines on the
establishment and management of shelters and
reception counters, with the technical support of
UNFPA (2011)
• Conducted an Assessment of Shelter services in
Timor-Leste, with the support of UNFPA (2011)

11. Progress Achieved .....continue
• Provide financial support for the resourcing, staffing
and management of existing Uma Mahons (on-going)
• Establish the first state established shelter in the sub-
district of Maliana.
• As part of the GBV National Action Plan, MSS has the
responsibility to ensure that adequate Uma Mahons
are established and geographically placed to meet the
needs of GBV and DV victims who lack community and
family protection. It is in this context that MSS has
taken a significant step to establish an Uma Mahon in
Maliana.

12. Overall Aim of the Shelter Model of
Maria Tapo
 It is envisioned that this shelter is to be a model
shelter that strives to adhere to the operational
guidelines and minimum standards as outlined in
the technical guidelines developed.
 It is envisioned that through this model shelter,
we are able to develop pragmatic transitional
strategy to facilitate existing shelters to meet
criteria for the establishment and management of
shelters(Uma Mahon)

13. Way forward
• Develop transitional strategies to facilitate
Support Centres to meet criteria for the
establishment and management of shelter
(Uma Mahon) and Fatin Simu Victima
(Reception Counter)
• Provision of financial support to shelters for
staffing , resourcing and management
• Develop a decree law on the establishment
and management of shelter

14. Thank you!