BACK DOOR Newsletter on East
Timor home
Urgent Actions
NOTE: Mar 20 Dear BACK DOOR, The
petition [for women's quotas] is over, the battle lost! for now ... Best
wishes, Catherine
Scott, Catholic Institute for International Relations
See this letter of support for this
campaign:
Mar
1 ETAN/US: Letter on women and upcoming election
"Although they have made many contributions to their society through
the independence movement, literacy campaigns, and other community service
efforts, East Timorese women remain one of the most marginalized segments
of the population. ... We hope that UNTAET will, at the behest of the East
Timorese society it serves and in keeping with the United Nations’ commitment
to women’s empowerment worldwide, rule in favor of a requirement for at
least 30 percent women candidates in the upcoming elections in East Timor."
Charles
Scheiner, National Coordinator, East Timor Action Network
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 11:56:06 EST
EAST TIMOR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS:
UPDATE ON CAMPAIGN FOR QUOTAS FOR WOMEN
East Timorese women have enlisted the support of Xanana Gusmao, Jose Ramos
Horta and Sergio Viera de Melo for quotas for the election of a minimum
of 30% women to the East Timorese Constituent Assembly - but the UN is
still refusing to budge.
The UN Electoral Assistance Division in New York refuses to set what
they regard as a precedent for UN supervised elections in the future by
allowing women's quotas to be a feature of the forthcoming election in
East Timor, and are threatening to pull out of supervising the elections
if the quotas are pursued.
The women are now appealing to Kofi Annan to address the
issue and initiate a change of policy. Groups who share their concern
that the UN's own policies on women's advancement should be addressed in
this way, are asked to continue to lobby for quotas to be allowed. Time
is running out, as the legislation governing the elections is due to be
finalised by the end of next week.
Please write in support of the women's concern that the UN's own policies
on women's advancement be addressed and changed:
Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations, UN
Plaza, 10017, New York, USA
Fax: 1 212 963 4879
For further info see this petition:
Until
Mar 5 2001 CIIR: Women's Representation to ETimor's Constituent Assembly
"East Timorese women have been politically marginalised for long enough.
They have made it clear that they want to have a much stronger voice in
the new East Timor. ... CIIR calls upon individuals, NGOs, solidarity groups
and East Timor networks everywhere to add your support to REDE's concerns
and to lobby the United Nations in New York, your governments, and UNTAET
to take into account the legitimate aspirations of East Timorese women."
CIIR
Catherine Scott,
Asia Policy Officer,
Catholic Institute for International Relations,
Unit 3, Canonbury Yard,
190a new North Road,
London N1 7BJ
Tel: 020 7354 0883
Fax: 020 7359 0017
Email Catherine Scott: Cathy@ciir.org
Web: http://www.ciir.org
Catholic
Institute for International Relations
"Tackling the causes of poverty and injustice
internationally through advocacy and skillsharing."
CIIR works with people of all faiths and
none.
Email Catherine Scott: Cathy@ciir.org
Homepage: http://www.ciir.org ETimor
Webpage: http://www.ciir.org/ipd/eti.html
BACK DOOR Newsletter on East
Timor home
Urgent Actions
Website: http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood
Email: wildwood@pcug.org.au