Women and other survivors of the widespread sexual violence during Timor-Leste’s 24-year conflict are ageing and continue facing new struggles in their lives, still feeling forgotten by the state. It is nearly 50 years since the start of the conflict when the sexual violence began, and more than 20 years since it ended: survivors range in age from their mid 20s to 70s. AJAR alongside sister organisation Asosiasaun Chega! Ba Ita (ACbit), are scoping the opportunity to fulfil survivors’ rights to reparations, and launching the result of our research today.
Scoping Opportunities & Challenges for Reparations Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Bukae are basic needs for a long journey that are usually carried in a basket. Bukae is a word that survivors linked with the idea of reparative measures—addressing their specific needs in relation to their experiences of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
This Scoping Project is the first step to designing and implementing interim reparative measures for survivors of CRSV, children born of war, and children witnesses to CRSV, with goals to advocate for a more permanent and robust reparations program for survivors in the future.
Bukae for Survivors, Reparations to Survivors of Sexual Violence
As part of a Global Reparations Study (first launched in 2020 and aiming to cover more than 20 countries) on the reparations needs of survivors of CRSV, we collaborated with the Global Survivors Fund to conduct and write a study to identify the cases in Timor-Leste, as well as the opportunities for delivering reparations to survivors through judicial and administrative processes. Titled Bukae ba Sobrivivente: Fornese Reparasaun ba Vítima Violasaun Seksuál durante Konflitu 1975-1999 iha Timor-Leste, this Study presents and analyses survivors’ perceptions of, and expectations for reparations, and offers practical, concrete and context-specific recommendations to policymakers and other relevant actors at national and global levels to inform the design and delivery of survivor-centred reparations in Timor-Leste.
This Timor-Leste study also seeks to establish whether survivors of CRSV have already received any form of assistance and/or reparation through government programs or from civil society initiatives, and if so, what lessons can be learned from those experiences, to inform the design and delivery of comprehensive reparations in the future, including the potential delivery of interim reparative measures by GSF. As an objective in itself, the Timor-Leste Study process further aimed to increase the understanding and awareness of survivors’ rights to reparations and to create further momentum for the delivery of meaningful survivor-centred reparations to CRSV survivors in Timor-Leste.
The Timor-Leste Study is part of a global study on reparations (the “Global Reparations Study”) launched by GSF in 2020, which focuses on the status of and opportunities for reparations for survivors of CRSV in over 20 countries. The Global Reparations Study is a multi-actor effort led by GSF in collaboration with over 40 local and international partners, including survivors’ networks and groups. It seeks to make recommendations for further action based on survivors’ needs and aspirations and to identify potential support available among key actors and concrete action to enhance access to reparations for CRSV survivors around the world.