Date: 29 Aug 2001
Oxfam calls on the Constituent Assembly to listen to the people
At 9am on Wednesday morning, the Oxfam International Election Observer Delegation will be available for interview at Hotel Turismo. The delegation includes members from the UK, Australia and Hong Kong and will be travelling to Maliana and Balibo to monitor polling booths, helping to ensure the vote is free and fair.
“Oxfam calls on the new Constituent Assembly to, once elected, seek further active participation from the East Timorese population in forming the country’s constitution,” Oxfam International’s Jeremy Hobbs said. “It is vital that the voice and wishes of the East Timorese are fully included in the document which will be the foundation of their country.”
“The Constituent Assembly could ensure effective participation by extending the 90 day time line for creating a constitution, or by declaring the constitution an interim document, with the opportunity for a fuller participatory process in the next two years. Thirdly, the Constituent Assembly could aim to achieve a full participation process within the 90 days,” Mr Hobbs said.
Solange Rosa, Oxfam’s Advocacy Manager, has been supporting the Gender and Constitutional Working Group to ensure East Timorese women’s rights are included in the new constitution.
“With women making up a quarter of the candidates in East Timor’s first democratic election, it is vital they are supported to achieve office. Women from all over East Timor have collected 10,000 signatures on a petition from both women and men, to promote rights of women in the future constitution of East Timor,” Solange Rosa said.
The delegation includes:
Jeremy Hobbs, Executive
Director, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
John Whitaker, Deputy Director,
Oxfam Great Britain
Solange Rosa, East Timor
Advocacy Manager, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
Wai Fong Chan, Policy Director,
Oxfam Hong Kong
Contact Details:
Jeremy Hobbs, mobile, 0408
992 827,
Caroline Green, Communications
Officer, mobile 0409 181 454,
Solange Rosa, mobile 0407
816 761
Community
Aid Abroad - Oxfam Australia Updated Feb 17
CAA is an independent, Australian, secular
and voluntary community-based organisation that brings together people
from diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultures in order to build a fairer
world. Community Aid Abroad merged with the Australian
Freedom From Hunger Campaign in 1992, and the combined organisation
is the Australian member of Oxfam
International.
CAA's
work in East Timor includes rehabilitation of urban water supply systems;
health promotion; capacity building with Timorese groups involved in environmental
health activities, as well as other local community groups undertaking
activities ranging from women's collectives, to human rights, and carpentry
and other start-up ventures.
Homepage: http://www.caa.org.au/
ETimor Webpage: http://www.caa.org.au/world/asia/east_timor/index.html
See also:
BD: Peoples' Participation / Participação Dos Povos / Partisipasaun Politika - A collection of recent media releases, reports and articles