advice to victims of domestic violence. Allied to these organizations are Forum Mulher,
and others community based civil society organizations. From the Government side the
Ministry of Justice is the body that deals with these cases. The Ministry of Home Affairs
also is doing some work in the publicising of the Law and showing the need for the
victims to denounce such cases as well as activities relates do domestic violence.
75. In terms of multi-sectoral campaign against domestic violence, some activities were
carried out like the organization, in 2011, of the National Meeting on Violence and
Integrated Support in the city of Maputo, where 25 participants attended (15 women and
10 men) among technicians from MMAS, MISAU, MINT, MIJUS and representatives of
the civil society at central and provincial levels.
76. However, despite these permanent efforts there is still a challenge related to the
popularization of the Law on Domestic Violence and sensitization so that the victims of
violence can denounce these cases. This is because the mechanisms for the protection
of denouncers are not effective, even with the passing of the Law on the Protection of
the Victims, Denouncers, Testimonies and Others Involved, because it is necessary to
create conditions for the implementation of such Law like Office for the Protection of
Victims. The absence of these offices do not allow a proper implementation of the law
namely legal commands11
77. On the APR Panel´s recommendation to build capacity of the Police to deal with cases of
violence against women and the inclusion in the training programmes of issues on
domestic violence and gender, the Government ensured the organization of training
courses for the commanders of the police stations at the level of Maputo and Beira and
training of specialists to deal with support to women and children who are victims of
violence (GdM 2010). In addition training and sensitization workshop sessions were
organized. Other activities included the establishment of a data base for the Office for
the Support of Victims of Domestic Violence. 8 training courses were organized and a
total of 106 sensitization sessions at national level (GdM 2011).
78. In addition, 656 sensitization campaigns were carried out in communities and schools on
issues related to domestic violence. On the other hand, 10 training sessions were
organized with the participation of 300 persons of which 280 were members of the PRM
and 20 stakeholders from the civil society. In the context of cooperation with the UN
System, various police agents were trained as peer educators on domestic violence
(idem GdM, 2011).
79. Notwithstanding these efforts, there is a challenge which is related to the need to take
these actions to the most remote communities where the cases of domestic violence
occur frequently and where there are no specialized offices to deal with these matters,
and thus, there is a need for the grassroots to be trained to carry out these activities.
There must be a greater collaboration between the police and the grassroots
organizations for them to convey the message on domestic violence and the need to
combat it as well as the expansion of the Support Offices.
11
See the proposed M&E indicator on the Performance Assessment Framework between the Government and the
Programme Aid Partners (PAPs).
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