Part 1: context & initiatives
A
collection of recent information, petitions, articles and news relating
to East Timorese women (and consequently men).
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Part 1 up-dated: Jan 16, 2002
NEW = Added to BACK DOOR Website since last Monday's Emailout
Part
1: context & initiatives [this page]
* Strengths
* 'Development'
& Reconstruction
* Women
and elections
/ Partisipasaun Politika hosi Feto
* Quotas
for Women
/ Kuota ba Feto
* Law
Part
2: violence against women
Jan
12 ETDF: Ruak on occasion of Offering of 2 Patrol Boats
Speech added Jan 16
"My closing words are directed to the
two godmothers - Birali and Fernanda Borges - of our patrol boats
Oecussi
e Ataúro. The choice of godmothers is not an easy task
particularly
when in East Timor, the women have played and continue to play an
unquestionably
major role in determining the future of our country. However, the ETDF
had to make a well founded choice. Our two sisters represent two fronts
of our struggle and two generations in our history. ... This historic
diversity
is the basis of our greatest wealth. We have before us two women with
almost
opposite backgrounds whose added experiences further increase the
riches
of East Timor. Thank you Birali and Fernanda for having agreed to be
the
Godmothers of our two patrol boats, Oecussi and Atauro." Brigadier
General
Taur Matan Ruak, Força de Defesa de Timor-Leste
Oct
30 UNSC: ET women: ‘Arria formula’ meeting Speech
added
Nov 2
"In the last 25 years 96.6% of East
Timorese
experienced trauma. With the assistance of UNTAET’s Gender Unit and the
leadership of Mr. de Mello, women
obtained
26% of the seats in the recently elected Constituent
Assembly. This remarkable achievement occurred despite the mixed
messages
from UN departments and ultimate rejection of the proposal that would
have
required 30% of each party’s political candidates to be women. The will
of the East Timorese must be celebrated by continued efforts at
expanding
women’s roles within a patriarchal society. Among several other
successes,
the formation of Timor Loro Sae’s
Women’s
Political Caucus, and the
“Women’s
Charter of Rights” mark an historical milestone in women’s
commitment
to peace, security, and justice." Natércia Godinho-Adams, on
behalf
of East Timorese women’s organizations
Sep
3 CIIR: Listen to East Timorese women’s voices, urges CIIR
Release added Sep 6
"It is clear that women in East Timor
want to play a full role in shaping the future of their country. ...
the
women we have spoken to, both in the capital and in the countryside,
are
adamant that in order to exercise their responsibilities in building a
new East Timor they need to be able to establish their rights as equal
citizens. Whether or not they achieve this will depend on the
continuing
support of the international community: both to East Timor and
specifically
to its women." Catherine Scott, spokesperson for the Catholic
Institute for International Relations (CIIR) delegation
August
2001 LHB: Catholic Women’s Conference in Rome Article
added Aug 22
"Earlier this year, the World Union of
Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) held a conference of members in
Domus Pacis, Rome. Two East Timorese women, Sr. Maria Dias of PAS
Clinic and Laura Abrantes of Fokupers
attended the conference. Both women are also active with the East
Timorese Women’s Network. ... At the WUCWO meeting in Rome,
international
representatives approved a list of 15 resolutions, which they have
since
forwarded to Pope John Paul II, the United Nations and many other
influential
individuals and organizations." La'o
Hamutuk: East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
Mar
12 TP: Garcia: International Women’s Day News from
ETimor
"To commemorate International Women’s
Day in East Timor, women’s organisations such as Et-Wave,
Fokupers,
OMT,
OPMT
and youth organisations joined in a long procession." Rosa Garcia
Nov
17 2000 LHB: Vision for a People-Centered Health System in East Timor
Report
"Preventative [health], rather than
curative,
strategies are at the center. Local involvement and empowerment is the
key. Village women are the number one health resource of East
Timor.
They, more than anyone, exhibit concern for health in the community."
Dan Murphy, Bairo Pite Clinic, Dili
REDE:
Feto Timor Lorosae Timorese Women's Network
* REDE: Feto Timor Lorosae was established
in March 2000 and currently encompasses more than 15 women’s
organisations.
These organisations are representative in themselves of a broad cross
section
of society as there are mass based organisations with national
membership
- down to the village level, cultural, income generating/small
business
and rights based organisations and organisations affiliated with
political
parties.
* REDE and each of the network’s members
have been accompanying the political developments in our country
[ETimor].
REDE advocates on a rights based approach to development, justice,
social
inclusiveness and gender equity and equality. REDE is also
participating
in and contributing to the reconstruction as well as working directly
with
Timorese women through amongst others, literacy and income generating
and
poverty alleviation projects to help them break away from the
debilitating
ties of illiteracy and poverty.
* Although there have been achievements,
progress is slow. Women’s lives in East Timor, as with the rest of the
population continues to be arduous. For women this is more so because
of
the situation of women in Timorese society, cultural perceptions of
women,
the absence of clear laws which protect women and women’s limited
participation
in decision making.
Bahasa Indonesia:
OPMT:
Organizacao Popular de Mulher Timor / The Popular Organisation of East
Timorese Women
Sejarah Pendek: Organisasi ini
muncul pada tahun 1975 begerak di bidang sosial dan emansipasi
perempuan
Timor di segala aspek eksistensinya sesuai dengan evolusi perang di
Timur
Timor.
Kegiatan Sekarang lsm dan Kebutuhan
Utama: Kebutuhan sekarang adalah mengadakan aksi sosial seperti
memberikan
bantuan kepada yang membutuhan.
Kegiatan Sekarang: Aksi sosial
(periodik).
Rencana: Akan mengadakan kegiatan
di tiga kabupaten.
Portuguese:
25-27
de Maio de 2000 Mini-Conferência Da OPMT, Dili
Link
to documents added Sep 6
FRETILIN site: http://www.geocities.com/alextilman/conferences.html
" ... A Mini-Conferência da
OPMT, reunida de 25 a 27 de Maio do ano 2000, considerando os
vários
entraves sócio-culturais a emancipação da mulher,
dentre os quais, se destacam o elevado grau de analfabetismo e a
dominância
dos valores patriarcais da sociedade timorense, decidiu propor a UNTAET:
- Para que crie mecanismos rápidos
de alfabetização das mulheres. Saliente-se que numa
população
de aproximadamente 800 000 habitantes, 63% são mulheres. Desta
percentagem
da mulher, 64% é iletrada;
- Para que conceda facilidades de treino
e formação técnico-profissional às mulheres
da OPMT e, em particular, as viúvas de guerra;
- Para que conceda recursos e meios que
permitam a OPMT educar e mobilizar a comunidade, a juventude e o homem
na defesa dos direitos humanos da mulher;
- Para que introduza leis
específicas
na Constituição que protejam os direitos da mulher;
- Para que crie os mecanismos que promovam
a criação de centros de apoio às vítimas de
violência doméstica .... " OPMT:
Organizacao Popular de Mulher Timor / The Popular Organisation of East
Timorese Women
OPMT:
The Popular Organisation of East Timorese Women / Organizacao Popular
de
Mulher Timor
OPMT (FRETILIN's women's organisation)
emerged in 1975, to promote the emancipation of women in all aspects of
life, appropriate to their evolving role in East Timor. As an East
Timorese
women's organisation OPMT has been dealing with the impact of
Indonesian
rule that has dominated their lives for the past 25 years culminating
in
the violence around the UN sponsored Popular Consultations in 1999. It
is these women who have been dealing with those who have been severely
psychologically and/or physically traumatised. They have been helping
address
the needs of women who are the main carers of children (many of whom
are
orphans), the injured, sick and the elderly.
Bahasa Indonesia:
Fokupers
- Forum Komunikasi Untuk Perempuan Loro Sae
Maksud Umum: Fokupers didirikan
pada tahun 1997. Organisasi ini membantu korban politik dan juga
memberikan
nasihat atau ‘counselling’ dan lain lain kepada perempuan yang
menderita
sebagai bekas tapol, atau yang menjadikan janda karena perang, atau
isteri
tapol. Selain dari itu, Fokupers mendorong hak asasi manusia, pada
khususnya
untuk perempuan, dalam masyarakat setempat.
Kegiatan Sekarang: Sudah mengadakan
bengkel untuk mendiskusi bagaimana perempuan akan diikuti atau menjadi
lebih aktip di masyarakat Timor Loro Sa’e. · Pada saat ini, kami
memusatkan perhatian atas latihan ‘trauma counselling’ untuk pekerja
Fokupers.
Fokupers
- Forum Komunikasi Untuk Perempuan Loro Sae
Women's Development and Advocacy
Fokupers was founded in 1997. It focuses
on political victims and gives counselling and other forms of
assistance
to women victims of violations, including ex political prisoners, war
widows
and wives of political prisoners. Its mandate also includes promoting
women’s
human rights among the local population, especially the East Timorese
women.
Fokupers is conducting workshops discussing ways to enhance or develop
further women’s participation in Timorese society. Fokupers is focusing
on receiving trauma counselling training for their staff in order to
provide
counsel to women victims.
Bahasa Indonesia:
ET-WAVE
- Perempuan Timor Loro Sa’e Yang Menentang Kekerasan
Perempuan Timor Loro Sa’e Yang Menentang
Kekerasan, Dan Memajukan Hak2 Anak-Anak (Ex Gertak)
Maksud Umum: Organisasi ini
didirikan
untuk memberikan perlindungan dan kesamaan hak terhadap perempuan dan
kepedulian
terhadap anak.
Sejarah Pendek: Berdiri dengan
nama Gertak pada 25/11/1998. Dalam kurun waktu satu tahun telah
melakukan
beberapa pekerjaan antara lain: mendata korban kekerasan dan membantu
penyelesaian
beberapa majalah perempuan.
Kegiatan Sekarang lsm dan Kebutuhan
Utama: Sangat prihatin karena telah kehilangan gedung kantor,
alat/peralatan
kerja, data dll. Tinggal hanya semangat. Kebutuhan utama adalah: 1.
Kantor/tempat
kerja 2. Kendaraan 3. Peralatan kerja
Kegiatan Sekarang: Mendata korban
kekerasan dan memberi pertolongan seperti perawatan medis dan
mendampingi
korban memberikan kesaksian di depan komisi HAM PBB. Selebihnya belum
bisa
karena kesulitan/keterbatan operasi kami.
Rencana: Segera turun ke daerah
karena banyak perempuan korban kekerasan saat ini yang butuh
pertolongan.
Di samping itu segera mencari solusi untuk para korban.
ET-WAVE
- East Timorese Women Against Violence
East Timorese Women Against Violence,
And For The Rights Of Women And Children (Formerly Gertak)
* ET-WAVE was established to provide
protection
and equal rights for women, and to care for children. The organisation
was originally established under the name Gertak on 25/11/1998. Over
the
past year it has undertaken several projects, including data collection
from victims of violence, and has assisted in the organisation of
several
women’s magazines.
* ET-WAVE is collecting data from victims
of violence and offering assistance, such as medical nursing. Also,
assisting
victims in giving evidence before the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Beyond
this we are constrained by operational difficulties.
* ET-WAVE plans to begin immediate work
on the ground, as so many women who are victims of violence need urgent
help and to immediately seek solutions for the victims.
'Development' & Reconstruction:
Oct
30 UNSC: ET women: ‘Arria formula’ meeting Speech
added
Nov 2
"Widows and single mothers in East Timor
have received little to no aid in the last two years.
Currently,
women who care for children with disabilities receive little to no
support.
A lack of support for women contributes to social ills already visible
in Dili’s streets, such as prostitution, street children and child
labor.
... East Timorese women call upon the UN to provide resources for cost
effective and community managed health promotion projects that
cover
reproductive health, communicable disease control and environmental
health.
Similarly, mental health programs must be included in health policies
and
funding allocation." Natércia Godinho-Adams, on behalf of East
Timorese women’s organizations
August
2001 LHB: Women and the Reconstruction of East Timor
Bulletin
intro added Aug 22
"Unfortunately, women’s liberation is
not a natural outcome of national liberation. In East Timor, as around
the world, women face pervasive violence, both in public and private
life.
Women face higher rates of illiteracy, malnutrition, and overall
poverty.
Women as a group lack access to resources and power to impact public
policies
and development strategies. And while, since 1975, the United Nations
has
played an important role in international efforts to improve the status
of women globally, economic globalization and international militarism
continue to disproportionately impact women’s lives in severe and
negative
ways." La'o
Hamutuk: East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
August
2001 LHB: Women’s Participation at the Rural Community Level
Article added Aug 22
"Present development practices often
reinforce
these patriarchal and urban-centered structures. In turn, poor women in
rural communities are often left out of the development picture. ...
Development
planning, therefore, often focuses disproportionately on urban
development,
leaving rural communities neglected and leading to a flux of rural
youth to cities in search
of
work. Instead, we should envision development from the perspective
of people’s daily lives and with a focus on the most basic of needs,
...
Development policies must focus on the most marginalized people in
society
poor girls and women in rural communities - and women must be involved
in development planning." Mana Micató, aka Maria Domingas Alves
Soares, one of the founding members of Fokupers
August
2001 LHB: Childbirth: A Major Health Concern for Women
Article added Aug 22
"Three newborn babies recently died in
our village, ... It is not uncommon for either the mother or child to
die
during childbirth here.” a village chief
"East Timor faces many
serious health problems; for women, childbirth is one of most
pressing.
... Health workers identified the following practical steps as
necessary
to ensure safer childbirth: * General reproductive health education in
villages. * Training for traditional birth attendants. * Establishment
of networks and support groups. ... It is critical that these programs
empower women as well as reduce heath-related problems. And it must
always
be understood that women’s health problems are deeply related to their
socio-economic situation." La'o
Hamutuk: East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
Jun
15 ET NGO Forum: Donors’ Meeting Discusses Key Issues
Final release added June 18
“I hope that efforts will continue to
strengthen the role of East Timorese women in
the
nation’s development, and that essential investments in education
and health will not be jeopardised when
hard
budget choices are being made. These are a long-term investment in our
nation,” Ms Ajiza Magno,
Member,
East Timor NGO Delegation to the Donors’ Conference June 2001
Jun
15 ET NGO Forum: Economic and Social Development Issues
Comment added June 18
"Such a vision would need to include
access
to appropriate education for excluded groups, particularly many
children
and adults in rural and remote areas. With 64% of our women unable to
read
and write, non-formal education is very important for them. There must
also be guaranteed access to schooling for girls so that education
contributes
to more gender equity in our society."
Forum Nacional
ONG Timor Lorosa'e / The East Timor National NGO Forum
Jun
13 ET NGO: REDE: Donors’ Conference: Women's Issues in East Timor
Paper added June 15
"All policy making must be done on the
basis of gender mainstreaming. The government must ensure that there is
a mechanism which guarantees the rights of women and gender justice in
operational funds. This must be done in parallel in the allocation of
programs
which strengthen civil society and organisations within it which
promote
women’s issues so as to ensure the effectiveness of advocacy and
measures
to progressively bring about changes in the lives of women." REDE
Feto Timor Lorosa’e (Timorese Women’s Network)
Jun
13 ETNGO Forum: The voice of Civil Society calls the Donors
Statement added June 14
"There is a great need for increased
district
level consultations with young people, women, rural communities
are essential in this next phase of transition. Administrative
decentralisation
in decision making and service provision will assist in this process.
We
call upon the International Donor Community to support the formation
and
strengthening of community groups and national NGOs that are linked to
local communities." Forum Nacional ONG Timor
Lorosa'e
/ The East Timor National NGO Forum
Jun
7 ETNGO Forum: Donors Meeting must be for Rural People
Release added June 14
“The planning of development programs
in East Timor must be gender-sensitive, providing guarantees for
women’s
active involvement in all political and economic processes, including
decision-making.
Now is the time to give serious attention to women’s issues, especially
in rural communities and in education and health, two fields that could
greatly contribute to improving the lives of East Timorese women.“ Ajiza
Magno, REDE:
Feto Timor Lorosae Timorese Women's Network
Bahasa Indonesia:
Jan
25-31 KPB: Dokumen berikut adalah ringkasan hasil-hasil lokakarya
Article added Aug 3
"Keikutsertaan wanita dalam semua tingkat
pengambilan keputusan, dan jaminan bahwa wanita mendapat akses ke
pendidikan
dan kesempatan, juga penting sekali untuk mencapai pembangunan ekonomi
secara berkelanjutan." Konferensi
Pembangunan Berkelanjutan di Timor Lorosa'e
Jan
25-31 2001 CSD: Program for Conference on Sustainable
Development
Summary up-dated Aug 3
"Involvement of women at all levels of
decision-making, and ensuring women have access to education and
opportunities,
are also vital to achieving sustainable economic development." Conference
on Sustainable Development in East Timor
Women and elections / Partisipasaun Politika hosi Feto:
Oct
30 UNSC: ET women: ‘Arria formula’ meeting Speech
added
Nov 2
"In the last 25 years 96.6% of East
Timorese
experienced trauma. With the assistance of UNTAET’s Gender Unit and the
leadership of Mr. de Mello, women obtained 26% of the seats in
the
recently elected Constituent Assembly.
This
remarkable achievement occurred despite the mixed messages from UN
departments
and ultimate rejection of the proposal that would have required 30% of
each party’s political candidates to be women. ... A problem with the
election process was voiced by several rural
women who stated that: “they had been told who to vote for by their
village chiefs.” This indicates a need for election observation efforts
to be gender sensitive to women as voters and candidates."
Natércia
Godinho-Adams, on behalf of East
Timorese
women’s organizations
Sep
10 UNDP: 24 Women in 88-Seat Constituent Assembly News
added Sep 11
"Results of last week’s elections in East
Timor indicate that the territory’s new 88-seat Constituent Assembly
will
have a total of 24 women members. The full breakdown on female
representatives
gives the Fretilin party 17, the PSD
three, the ASDT one and the PST
and PNT one apiece. The party with
the
lowest female representation is the second- placed PD,
which elected no women candidates." UNDP
Sep
3 CIIR: Listen to East Timorese women’s voices, urges CIIR
Release added Sep 6
"CIIR’s delegation in East Timor looked
at women’s participation in the 30 August elections,
met political parties, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and
voters in Dili and in the districts and concluded:
- Women were represented in party
lists but this doesn’t mean that women will automatically be elected.
...
- Most parties have not prioritised the
needs of women in their programmes. ...
- There is a severe lack of understanding
of the objective of the elections among the rural women. ...
- Violence against women is endemic,
amplified
by the post-conflict situation. ...
- Women have energetically organised to
address these issues through organisations ... " Catholic
Institute for International Relations (CIIR)
Sep
3 IFET Preliminary Election Observations Report added
Sep 4
"Recommendations to Make the Constitutional
Process More Democratic ...
4. Particular efforts should be made to
involve constituencies who may be marginalized from this process - such
as people outside Dili, the rural population and women. We urge
the Assembly to incorporate the Women’s Charter of Rights in East Timor
into the Constitution."
International Federation
for East Timor (IFET)
Aug
29 Oxfam calls on the Constituent Assembly to listen to the people
Statement added Aug 31
“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, Oxfam’s
Advocacy Manager & supporter of the Gender and Constitutional
Working
Group
Aug
24 UNIFEM: Participation of women as candidates for the elections
Info update added Aug 25
"We have made an important update to the
East Timor page of the UNIFEM East and South East Asia web site ...
Almost
all of the page content has been changed, with the highlight being an
all
new section about the participation of women as candidates for the 30th
August 2001 election, including an assessment of the support they will
need to be elected. " Geoff
Corner,
UNIFEM
Aug
21 CIIR: Where are East Timor's women leaders? Article
added Aug 23
"As the people of East Timor prepare to
elect the country’s first national assembly since independence CIIR is
sending an all-women team of observers to focus on women’s
participation.
... Three women candidates are standing as independent candidates in
the
districts, Olandina Caeiro, Teresa Carvalho, and Maria
Domingas Fernandes. The election of one or all of them ... ‘ ...
would
be a step towards dealing with unreasonable discrimination in East
Timorese
society, which is profoundly conservative and traditional, and in which
women occupy a position of subjugation, if we succeed in changing it
just
a little bit.’ [Caeiro said]" Catherine
Scott, Asia Policy Officer, Catholic
Institute for International Relations (CIIR)
Aug
21 CIIR observer mission to East Timorese elections
Release
added Aug 23
"Women campaigned for a minimum 30 per
cent quota for female candidates in party lists, as agreed by the CNRT
Congress and the first East Timorese women’s conference last year. But
in March the National Council blocked the proposal. Women have since
been
developing alternative strategies designed to ensure adequate
participation
by women in the elections, and have been urging political parties to
place
female candidates high on their lists so that women can enter the
assembly."
Catholic
Institute for International Relations (CIIR)
August
2001 LHB: Campaign to Support Women’ Rights in the Constitution
Article added Aug 22
"In March 2001, the National Council
rejected
a proposal that would have ensured that 30% of Constituent Assembly
members’
seats would be for women. ... The defeat, ... has not slowed women’s
activism
on constitutional issues. A campaign is underway to collect 10,000
signatures
in support of “the Women’s Charter of Rights” before 15 August, to
present
to the Constituent Assembly." La'o
Hamutuk: East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
"We want all people in East Timor to
understand
the importance of women’s rights in East Timor. The Constituent
Assembly
must listen to the voices of men and women and write a constitution
that
includes the rights of women,” Maria Angelina Pereira, Gender and
Constitution
Subcommittee of the Constitutional Working Group, a coalition of
national
and international organisations.
August
2001 LHB: The United Nations, Gender Affairs, and East Timor
Article added Aug 22
"In the East
Timorese Women’s Network’s Briefing on
Women’s
Issues (June 2001) for the East Timor Donors’ Conference, there is
a call for “the prompt realization of a Gender Unit within ETTA (East
Timor
Transitional Administration) both now and after independence, and both
in Dili and in the Districts administration. This is an urgent
requirement
so that women can be involved in dialogue so as to ensure that they are
not disadvantaged by administration policies.” Whether this office is
created
will depend largely on the new elected government. If created,
its
effectiveness will depend on its location in the new government
structure,
the mandate it carries, and the degree to which its staff understand
and
commit to that mandate." La'o
Hamutuk: East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
August
2001 LHB: The Employment of Women in ETTA Article
added
Aug 22
"Recently, ETTA led a large-scale effort
to recruit and hire East Timorese for civil service positions. These
positions
will help lay the foundation for the new East Timorese government. The
data below show the number of women employed as a percentage of total
employment
for different departments. ... Education 29%; Police 18%; Health 32%;
Judicial
Affairs 17%; Border Control 20%; Water and Sanitation 3%; Agriculture
10%;
Labor and Social Services 4%; Land and Property 3%; Foreign Affairs
39%"
La'o
Hamutuk: East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
Tetum:
Junho
2001 BLH: Lia Badak: Partisipasaun Politika hosi
Feto News from ETimor added Aug 26
"Iha loron 1 fulan Maiu, UNTAET sira nian
“Gender Affairs/Urusan Gender” Unit hamutuk ho Nasoes Unidas nian
Fundus
ba Feto sira (UNIFEM) komesa halao treinu potensial ba kandidatus feto
sira. Treinu ne’e hala’o iha fulan Maiu nian laran to’o prinsipiu fulan
Junhu no fokus ba partisipasaun politika,
halo desizaun no konhecimentu baziku konaba oinsa bele sai kandidatu
iha
eleisaun
oin mai hanesan membru konstituanti."
La’o
Hamutuk, Institutu Timor Lorosa’e ba Analiza no Monitor Reconstrusaun
Jun
18 CAA-OA: A step at a time in East Timor Interview
added
June 21
"The overall goal is to ensure active
participation—particularly for women—in the reconstruction, development
and political process. So some of the organisations we work with are
predominantly
women’s organisations. ... We’re working quite a lot on a women and
leadership
programme, looking at how legislation is being developed, how to draft
a constitution, why it’s important for women be involved, why their
vote
counts, what they might feel is important." Keryn Clark, Country
Programme
Manager, Oxfam Australia (Community Aid
Abroad)
Jun
13 ET NGO: REDE: Donors’ Conference: Women's Issues in East Timor
Paper added June 15
"- There must be a guarantee that East
Timor women are actively involved in the political process, especially
after the rejection of the minimum 30% quota system. This particularly
applies to the process of preparation for the first General Election
for
the Constituent Assembly in East Timor.
- There should be improvement of the
capacity
of women to take part in political processes, such as the training for
political candidates, which has been already carried out by the Gender
Unit.
- Support for women’s political activities
needs to be increased for instance by providing the infrastructure for
women’s activities to develop their capacity to take part in each
process.
- Recruitment of women to occupy positions
within the government must be increased to meet the minimum standard of
30% in each sector.
- The Timorisation of administration as
announced by UNTAET has not yet been carried out in the Gender Unit.
Even
as the General Election approaches the majority of staff in the Gender
Unit are International staff.
- Women urge the prompt realization of
a Gender Unit within ETTA (East Timor Transitional Administration) both
now and after independence, and both in Dili and in the Districts
administration.
This is an urgent requirement so that women can be involved in dialogue
so as to ensure that they are not disadvantaged by administration
policies."
REDE Feto
Timor Lorosa’e (Timorese Women’s Network)
May
20 FRETILIN: Electoral Commitment 2001 Position
statement
added July 5
"FRETILIN believes that Women share the
same rights as men; such rights give them the capacity to participate
more
actively in the organisation of our society, in political life and in
social
and economic development." FRETILIN:
Frente Revolucionária Do Timor-Leste Independente
Quotas for Women / Kuota ba Feto
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
Feb
8 CIIR: Women's Representation to ETimor's Constituent Assembly Petition
"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."
Catholic Institute
for International Relations, CIIR
Feb
24 CIIR: Update on Women's Quotas Campaign Update
"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." Catherine
Scott, Catholic Institute for International Relations
Mar
1 ETAN/US: Letter on women and upcoming election Letter
"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
Mar
16 LUSA: National Council Members Explain Rejection of Quotas for Women
News
"Members of East Timor’s National Council
transition legislature justified Friday their rejection of quotas for
women
candidates on party election lists. ... Simultaneous to the press
conference,
a group of several dozen protesters from East Timor’s most prominent
women’s
rights organizations demonstrated in front of the Government Palace in
Dili." JBC
Mar
17 TP: The Dynamic Of ‘Quota Politic’ Editorial from
ETimor
"We have spoken many times on women’s
demand for a 30 % quota and do not want to say more. Except that,
Timorese
can emulate the example set by REDE
(East Timor Women Network) yesterday at UNTAET headquarters. We
welcome
the day when the actions of interest groups or political groups are
based
on dialogue, debate and discussion. ... REDE has shown the correct
political
path for our country. We hope that future political actions for
democracy
in our country will take into account this dynamism. This is the
democratic
model that needs to be created in our country." Timor Post Editorial
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
October
2001 LHB: Women and Justice Article added Nov 9
"Ensuring that the law
itself protects women and complies with international human rights
standards is only the first step. In addition, there must be effective
community
education about women’s rights and sensitive administration of the
laws. It is the responsibility of all those involved in the justice
system
law makers, police, prosecutors, lawyers and judges - to ensure that
women
achieve full equality before the law." Kate Halliday, Australian-based
lawyer & recent volunteer with FOKUPERS
(East Timorese Women’s Communication Forum) in Dili
August
2001 LHB: Domestic Violence: A Part of Women’s Daily Lives in ETimor
Article added Aug 22
"The law must also give protection to
women facing violence. ... All of us must understand violence against
one’s
wife as a crime. There must be clear laws against domestic violence,
marital
rape and the treatment of women as property. And the authorities must
enforce
these laws. The law must also provide for assistance to victims of
violence,
assistance to men who are prone to acts of violence, appropriate
medical
services, and police who are sensitive to violence against women and
who
care and understand the key issues around the violence." Manuela Leong
Pereira is the Director of Fokupers
August
2001 LHB: International Security Forces and Sexual Misconduct
Commentary added Aug 22
“It is absolutely essential that all UN
forces are held to the same standards of international human rights law
as are nation states…To do otherwise creates a climate of impunity in
which
offences proliferate.” Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Rapporteur on
Violence
Against Women
"Within the UN’s international security
forces, there must be zero tolerance for attitudes and behaviors that
objectify
or degrade women. And when crimes are committed, there must be a clear,
thorough, and transparent procedure of justice." La'o
Hamutuk: East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
Aug
9 SMH: Widows who share a legacy of murder Article
added
Aug 10
“We want the militia brought to justice,
... We want the militia tried and punished. Reconciliation means
justice
and a trial. ... A 10-year old boy was killed right in front of me. His
name was Francisco Barreto, ... My husband was dragged into another
room.
He was stabbed and managed to walk as far as the Junior High School and
collapsed there and died from his wounds,” Filomena Fereira da Silva,
widow
of pro-independence leader murdered during the Maliana police station
massacre
Jul
29 TAPOL: Dili Court Flouts Women's Rights in Releasing Surgeon from
Prison
Release added Aug 1
"In granting the appeal, the court is
sending out a message that appears to condone domestic
violence, which is known to be fairly widespread in East Timor.
Such
practices should be firmly condemned, not tolerated. ... TAPOL believes
that this case also raises questions about the independence and
impartiality
of the presiding judges and in particular the question as to whether
their
decision was influenced by Dr Lobo’s prominent position in East
Timorese
society." TAPOL, the Indonesia Human
Rights
Campaign
Jul
27 JSMP Comments to the Sergio Lobo interlocutory appeal
Comments added July 28
"Panel A of the Dili District Court
decided
to conditionally release Dr Sergio Lobo, ... from detention in Becora
prison
and place him under house detention until his forthcoming trial. ...
JSMP
is concerned that this interlocutory decision has the potential to
seriously
undermine the equally important rights of the victims of crime and
violates
international human rights law aimed at ensuring the safety and
security
of every person. Furthermore, the decision seems to reveal a
prejudicial
attitude, even within the justice system, against respect for women’s
rights in East Timor." Judicial System
Monitoring
Programme news service
Bahasa Indonesia:
Jul
25 TMP: Pernyataan Keprihatinan Atas Sidang Naik Banding
Statement added Aug 1
"Bahwa kami sangat menyesalkan hasil
keputusan Majelis Hakim Panel A pengadilan distrik Dili untuk mencabut
penahanan sementara atas tersangka dr Sergio Lobo. Dasar pertimbangan
yang
dipakai hakim maupun pihak pembela untuk melepaskan dr Sergio Lobo,
tidak
menunjukkan aspek pembelaan dan keadilan terhadap korban GG. Ernawati."
oleh Tim Monitoring Persidangan: Fokupers
(Forum Komunikasi Untuk Perempuan Loro Sae); Tim Kuasa Hukum G.G.
Ernawati
Legal Aid Ukun Rasi’An
Jul
25 CMT: Statement of Concern Regarding the Appeal Hearing
Statement added July 28
"We are extremely disappointed by today’s
decision of the High Panel of Judges in District Dili Court to overturn
the temporary detention of the accused Dr. Sergio Lobo. The reasoning
for
the judgement presented by the judges as well as by the defense for the
release of Sergio Lobo does not point to concern for justice for the
victim,
GG. Ernawati." The Court Monitoring Team: Fokupers
(the East Timorese Women’s Communication Forum) ; Legal Aid Team of
Ukun Rasik An
Jul
12 STL: Luis Carrilho: The law does not recognize ‘public figures’
News from ETimor added July 17
"All people are equal in the eyes of the
law and no one is above it, regardless of whether he or she is a renown
public figure, ... I understand that he [Dr Sergio Lobo] is an
intellectual
and a medical doctor. But I stress that no one is above the law
and
the same applies in Timor Lorosae, ... The judiciary is independent and
it will not bow to pressure from any institution or influential
people.”
Civpol spokesperson Luis Carrilho
Bahasa Indonesia:
Jul
12 NGO Forum / Rede Feto: Tokoh Masyarakat Ditahan Lagi Untuk Kekerasan
Rumah Tangga Pernyataan Pers (added
Juli
13)
"Kasus ini akan dijadikan preseden untuk
kasus-kasus kekerasan rumah tangga berikutnya dan untuk semua kasus
yang
melibatkan pejabat masyarakat tinggi ... Sistem pengadilan kita harus
memperlakukan
semua orang dengan cara sama.” Filomena Reis, Staf Advokasi di NGO
Forum Timor Lorosa’e
Dec
7 2000 CapT: Village Women of East Timor have great hope
"In their quest for economic empowerment,
East Timorese women are fighting more than their country's current
poverty
-- under customary law, women cannot inherit or own property." Jen
Laakso
Dec
5-6 2000 REDE: Women's Network statement to Brussels donor conference
"Although there have been achievements,
progress is slow. Women’s lives in East Timor, as with the rest of the
population continues to be arduous. For women this is more so because
of
the situation of women in Timorese society, cultural perceptions of
women,
the absence of clear laws which protect women and women’s limited
participation
in decision making." Filomena Reis, REDE
Feto Timor Lorosa’e (Timorese Women’s Network)
This page has moved;
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* Domestic
Violence
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moved;
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* Sexual
& related Violence as a weapon of war
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moved;
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* Other
Violence against women