Domin Nakloke (Unlocking Love)

Created by behaviour change communication experts, the series is meant to be fun and engaging while addressing serious issues. According to Ba Futuru, research shows that entertainment-education influences mental models of individual viewers and, in the process, sets the stage for collective action by impacting mental models accepted by society. Dramas can be an accessible and engaging way through which to spread messages and promote positive behaviour.

The series seeks to balance realistic scenarios with aspirational ones so as to:

• show the negative consequences of using violence;
• provide opportunities for male and female champions of violence prevention to have their voices heard widely through the talk shows associated with the series; and
• promote individual and collective thought on the eradication of violence against women and girls.

To date, the episodes that have been produced include:

1. Selfie is about a high school student named Teresa and her boyfriend Adao. They love each other, but will one selfie destroy their entire relationship? Objectives include: highlighting the potential negative consequences of sharing sexual images of yourself; and reducing the acceptance of controlling behaviour towards women and girls.
2. In Shout It Out, Elvira's friend Tina's father is a drunkard and a gambler. When he loses at cards, he is violent towards his family. This is contrasted with Elvira's house next door, where the father is often looking after his children and preparing their food. Will the community band together to stop Tina's father before he kills his wife? Objectives include: demonstrating the benefits of non-violent family relationships; empowering communities and individuals to reduce and prevent gender-based violence; and spreading information on how to file a case with the Vulnerable Persons Unit (VPU) of the Policia Nacíonal de Timor-Leste (PNTL). Another aim of the episode is to let people know that neighbours can report domestic violence and to provide a strategy for shaming the perpetrator in order to call on them to stop the use of violence. Thus, the episode promotes the use of pot banging or banging other metal objects (such as banging on a metal pole, which commonly used to draw attention in an earthquake or other event) as a practical tool for calling attention to domestic violence while the community is waiting for the police to come, or in cases where the police do not come (which is often also common, particularly in rural areas).
3. In No Means No, the group of girls goes to a wedding party. They meet Jose (a football star) and Siku (a talented singer), who are best friends. When Jose tries to push himself on Sonia, the wedding becomes chaotic, and Jose's life may be destroyed as well. According to behaviour change specialists, peer attitudes are extremely important in shifting the behaviour of young men, and thus, Ba Futuru included a scene where a key positive male role model (and other peers of the sexual assailant) clearly speak out on this issue. This episode works to: portray negative consequences of sexual assault; send a clear message from male peers that forcing a woman sexually is unacceptable behaviour; decrease the acceptance of sexual violence; and share information on how to get assistance in the cases of sexual assault.
4. Love Is Respect is a continuation from the story in Selfie, where Teresa finds a new love and her friend Lola is secretly dating Adao. There is a surprising twist to the story when someone finds herself pregnant. Objectives include: (i) providing information on teenage pregnancy prevention and promoting open dialogues in relationships about whether or not to have sex; and (ii) highlighting the government of Timor-Leste's new Inclusive Education Policy, which emphasises the importance of pregnant girls and young mothers continuing their education.

Each episode is coupled with a talk show element that allows for debriefing around the series content, provides expert advice for young people, and features celebrity guests. For example, the Shout It Out episode offered an opportunity in the talk show element to talk about the different strategies for a victim to get assistance - whether it be legal aid, counseling, or a safe house. Similarly, after No Means No, the talk show provided a forum for service providers to speak about their work, giving clear information on how to access assistance. It also communicated that there is special support available for people living with a disability if they are sexually assaulted or if they are experiencing other problems or violence; information was provided on how this support can be accessed.

Domin Nakoloke is active on Facebook, where the episodes may be viewed. (They can also be seen on the Domin Nakoloke website.) The series has been played in high schools by Ba Futuru and Plan International and soon is expected to be aired on national television.

Youth, Gender Equality, Violence against Women

Timor-Leste is a post-conflict country where the use of violence against women and children is a commonplace and often culturally accepted behaviour. Despite Timor-Leste passing the Law Against Domestic Violence in 2010, rates of domestic violence remain high, and there is still a lack of knowledge that domestic violence is illegal. Moreover, many people still do not realise that, according to the law, domestic violence is a public crime and that everyone can report cases of domestic violence (not only the victim). The 2016 Nabilan (Ending Violence Against Women) Program "Health and Life Experiences Baseline Study" on the prevalence, perpetration, and consequences of violence in Timor-Leste found that 59% of women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. This study also showed that 34% of women have experienced rape (mostly by their intimate partner), 14% of women experienced rape by a non-partner, and 3% of women have been gang-raped. In this context, Ba Futuru contends, it is critical to equip women and children with knowledge of support services and how to seek assistance when violence does occur, while also reducing the acceptance and normalisation of violence against women and children.

Ba Futuru is a national not-for-profit organisation, whose name, in the local language Tetun, means "For the Future". Since its founding in 2004, Ba Futuru has worked to stop violence by empowering people across Timor-Leste with conflict mitigation skills, positive discipline strategies, protection information, and human rights awareness. Approaches include: using interactive, collaborative, human-rights-based approaches and training models; using the arts (including visual arts, drama, theatre, and film) as a medium for transformation and a tool of engagement; using media and dynamic learning materials; creating public events; strengthening effective community leadership; seeking innovative ways to enable participation and embed change; delivering programmes based on research, learning, and evidence; pursuing targeted advocacy and policy development; building strong partnerships locally, nationally, and internationally; and ensuring that empowerment is central to all of its efforts.

Thus far, Ba Futuru has undertaken anonymous pre- and post-surveys with 43 high school students (27 female and 16 male) ages 16 to 20 years old in Manatuto before and after the students viewed the first 3 episodes of the Domin Nakloke film series. The results demonstrate the power of the series to increase knowledge and shift attitudes around healthy relationships. See Related Summaries below to access the data. To cite only one example: The number of people thinking that is okay to force someone to have sex when you are in a relationship decreased from 12% to 2% after viewing Selfie.