Fatin Hakmatek meaning “Quiet Place”, commenced in 2003 and provides safety, care and treatment for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, abandonment and human trafficking. Services include safety, counselling, medical treatment, medical forensic examination and documentation, maximum 3 days emergency accommodation, basic needs such as transport, food and clothes and referral to other relevant services such as police (PNTL VPU), hospital/clinic for medical treatment of serious injuries, longer term safe accommodation such as safe house/refuges (Fokupers and Casa Vida), child protection officers (MSS OPL), legal advice and assistance (ALFeLa), and other relevant services. Staff also provide follow-up medical treatment and home visits. There is a 24 hour telephone number.
Fatin Hakmatek has free standing custom built facilities in 4 hospitals spanning the country, Dili Hospital (HNGV), and the hospitals in Oecusse, Maliana, and Suai. Each facility has a medical examination room, counselling room, office for administration and finance, kitchen, meeting/training room, 2/3 sleeping rooms, and bathrooms for clients and staff. Dili Fatin Hakmatek has 2 vehicles and the district services have 1 vehicle each.
Fatin Hakmatek has been given land in the hospital in Baucau and is about to commence building a Fatin Hakmatek there to house the existing Fatin Hakmatek service that is currently renting and using Baucau Uma Paz for emergency and long-term accommodation.
The service in Dili covers the Municipalities of Dili, Ermera, Aileu, Liquica and Manatuto. The service in Suai covers the Municipalities of Covalima, Ainaro and Manufahi. The service in Oecusse covers the Municipality of Oecusse and the service in Baucau covers the Municipalities of Baucau, Viqueque and Lospalos. Maliana Fatin Hakmatek covers the Municipality of Bobonaro.
Dili Fatin Hakmatek is staffed by 6 nurse/midwife counsellors who are accredited medical forensic examiners, an administration officer, 2 drivers and a cook/cleaner. The District Fatin Hakmatek have 2/3 counsellors, including the Coordinator, cook cleaner, finance officer, gardener and a driver. Medical forensic examinations are performed by accredited medical forensic examiners, midwives and doctors, who are working in the attached hospital but who perform their examinations in the Fatin Hakmatek facilities. To make the service more accessible, 2 doctors and 1 midwife each based in the hospitals of Ainaro, Same, Viqueque and Lospalos have also been trained as accredited medical forensic examiners. They provide emergency medical treatment and medical forensic examination in those hospitals before referring to their local Fatin Hakmatek for follow-up.
All services have 24 hour security guards.
In 2004, PRADET Fatin Hakmatek developed a Medical Forensic Protocol that has been approved by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice, Police and the Prosecutor General. It is written in 3 languages and provides the capacity to document injuries and other evidence for cases of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, adults and children, females and males. The protocol is in line with current legislation such as the Timor Leste Penal Code and the Law against Domestic Violence, promulgated in 2010. Between 2005 and 2009 forensic examinations were performed by the Cuban Forensic Pathologist while Fatin Hakmatek staff, observing the forensic examination, provided the medical treatment, counselling and follow-up.
In 2009, the Cuban Forensic Pathologist left and PRADET Fatin Hakmatek developed a training curriculum for Timorese medical forensic examiners who are then accredited by INS (Institute Nasional da Saude). The training, developed by Dr Margaret Gibbons in consultation with Fatin Hakmatek staff, consists of 5 days of theory and 5 days of practicum in Dili Fatin Hakmatek. A training manual has been produced for all accredited examiners. Dr Gibbons and Dili Fatin Hakmatek also provide Refresher Training for all medical forensic examiners, regular visits to their sites and regular audits of all completed protocols are conducted to maintain standards and inform the Refresher training. Currently 50 doctors, midwives and nurses have been accredited. Of those 30 are still working with Fatin Hakmatek.
Fatin Hakmatek has developed a comprehensive data base and aims to maintain professional standards in case management.
Timor Leste has an estimated population of 1.2 million. In 2015 Fatin Hakmatek received 649 new referrals, 612 females and 37 males, and the numbers are increasing each year. 25% are children under 18 years of age. The majority of referrals come from police (75%) though the referrals from police are higher in the districts (Oecusse 90%). Other referrals come from family, neighbors, hospital emergency departments and other services in the Referral Pathway.
Dili Fatin Hakmatek also provides 2 day training to Health workers, both Government and NGOs about Recognizing, Respecting, Responding and Referring patients who present in their clinics/hospitals with non-Accidental Injuries. A training manual has been produced for all participants.
Fatin Hakmatek staff also provide other trainings to services such as police, community leaders, health workers and staff from other NGOs who work with women and children.
Fatin Hakmatek is the only service providing complete crisis care to people experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, abandonment and human trafficking. It satisfies all the WHO Recommendations for crisis response.
Fatin Hakmatek is currently almost completely funded by DFAT (Australian Aid) though the TAF Nabilan program. Triangle is supporting 3 district counsellor positions working specifically on reintegration of clients and economic empowerment. Other donors such as TLPDP have provided some funding for equipment and maintenance and training. In the past UNFPA was a significant donor.
