In October 2004, the Alola Foundation proudly published the first report into trafficking for sexual exploitation in Timor-Leste. The report is entitled: “Trafficking in Timor-Leste: A Look into the Newest Nation’s Sex Industry” and is the first base-line study to be published on this issue in Timor-Leste.

The study was conducted by the Alola Foundation Outreach Team between March to June 2004. During this period, the study found 115 women in Dili who were identified as potential trafficking victims. These women were recruited from Indonesia (30), China (35), Thailand (30) and the Philippines (20). Many were recruited for waitressing or cleaning jobs, only to be pressured into prostitution upon arrival in Dili. Many work under controlled conditions and are unable to leave their workplace without the permission of the ‘manager’ who retains their passport. There are no services currently available to assist these women, who remain isolated and continually exploited. To date, the police response has been simply to arrest and deport the women, without making any effort to tackle the trafficking network.

The findings in the study have generated significant concern. Although the scope of the human trafficking problem is relatively small in Timor-Leste when compared to other countries in South East Asia, it has the potential to increase if proper measures are not put in place now to combat trafficking. Accordingly, the Alola Foundation is working to support the government of Timor-Leste to combat human trafficking through it’s participation in the inter-agency Trafficking Working Group. We have also just submitted a joint proposal with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to conduct extensive training and awareness-raising on the issue, including the provision of ad hoc shelter and return support for trafficking victims.

The Alola Foundation is the only local NGO working on this issue in Timor-Leste. As such, we have been widely congratulated for having the courage to lead the debate on this difficult issue. As Kirsty Sword Gusmão explained during the launch of the report: “Human trafficking is a violation of human rights. We want to share the information we have collected so that we can work together to stop trafficking from increasing in Timor-Leste.”

During the course of the research, some significant information was also collected about prostitution in Timor-Leste more generally. In particular, the study found that during the research period, there were approximately 100 Timorese female and 100 Timorese male sex workers in prostitution in Dili. The report also found that the majority of female Timorese sex workers started prostitution after being sexually abused, raped or abandoned by boyfriends or husbands. Many of the sex workers interviewed also reported suffering violence and intimidation in the course of prostitution, including verbal abuse, physical abuse and rape. These findings have also generated widespread concern.

For more information, you can download a copy of the report:

1. English copy PDF

2. Indonesian copy PDF

If you require further information about this research or Alola’s activities in this area, please contact:

1. Alita Verdial, Projects Manager: alita@alolafoundation.org, or
2. Karen O’Sullivan, Advisor: karen@alolafoundation.org.