Medical Forensic Examination for Survivors

Brief Description

The original Medical Forensic Examination Protocol (MFP) endorsed by the National Institute of Health (MoH) adopted in 2010 was recently improved in collaboration with civil society organizations and the assistance of the AusAID Justice Facility, UNFPA and the spanish MDG Fund. Thus, 20 midwives and doctors from five hospitals in five districts (Oecussi, Suai, Baucau, Maliana, and Maubisse) have been trained in the use of the MFP and graduated in April 2012, which allowed the provision of medical forensic examination in rural area. This is a major breakthrough since there is no more need to bring the victims to Dili for examination. Twenty nurses, midwives and doctors have acquired this knowledge and that new safe rooms have been established, it is expectedan increased number of survivors will be able to undergo this examination according to the national recommendations. This, in turn, will support the efforts of the Office of the Prosecutor to proceed to trial, relying now on solid physical evidence and not only on witness testimony.