TIMOR-LESTE, IN FIRST REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today recognized the recent legislative and policy efforts of Timor-Leste to improve the lot of women in the Southeast Asian island nation’s traditional patriarchal society, but expressed concern over continuing discriminatory practices in schools, the workplace and family life.

Presenting Timor-Leste’s initial periodic report on compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, Idelta Maria Rodrigues, Secretary of State for Promotion and Equality, said a male-dominated culture and years of conflict had hindered women’s livelihood and well-being. But since gaining independence in 2002, the Government, with the support of the United Nations and development partners, had worked hard to promote women’s rights and empowerment.

Following ratification of the women’s Convention and its Optional Protocol in 2003, Timor-Leste’s Government had created a Penal Code with a gender perspective and provisions that criminalized domestic violence. It had also set up gender focal points in Government Ministries, launched gender awareness campaigns in the national media, and signed a pact with civil society and religious organizations to develop gender-sensitive budgeting and a health policy, as well as partnerships for resource and knowledge sharing on gender equality.

Article 17 of the Constitution guaranteed full equality between the sexes in all spheres of life, she said. Moreover, slated for approval this year by the Council of Ministers was a draft law establishing equal land and property rights for men and women, as well as a bill to prevent domestic violence, protect victims and guarantee their legal rights through strong regulation and support centres.

While lauding those efforts, Committee experts expressed concern over low school enrolment and graduation rates among girls, particularly pregnant teens, as well as sexual harassment and intimidation by male teachers. Girls, they said, needed a comfortable environment to learn and must be free from societal pressure to quit their studies if they got pregnant. They asked why divorced women were expected to return to their parents’ home.

Some experts were worried that women on average earned just one eighth of men’s pay and were often denied maternity leave or not allowed to return to work after taking leave, even though the law guaranteed those rights. They encouraged Timor-Leste to ratify the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) conventions on equal pay, treatment and opportunity in the workplace. Others felt that not enough was being done to protect girls and women from violence, prostitution and trafficking, as well as from forced labour.

Assuring the Committee that it was trying its hardest to fulfil its obligations and provide the necessary information, the delegation said that while Timor-Leste was a young country, it intended to include all its citizens equally in building its future. To the series of questions about children and education, the delegation said it took time to change the age-old mentality condoning corporal punishment. Work was under way meanwhile by the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality and the Education Ministry to end sexual harassment and violence against girls, particularly in remote areas, which had led many parents to remove their daughters from school.

The delegation confirmed that child labour was banned, and in June, the Government had ratified International Labour Organization Convention No. 182 on eliminating the worst forms. Also, it had prepared a memorandum of understanding with the National University on information sharing and assistance to students interested in gender studies. The Government had also launched intensive training programmes on gender issues for professors.
To additional concerns about practices in the workplace, Ms. Rodrigues said women public servants had the right to take maternity leave and resume their positions without penalty, but the situation was uneven in other employment fields and had to be improved through awareness-raising and other measures. The Government was working to educate women on how they could file complaints of sexual harassment that occurred on the job.

Regarding domestic violence, the draft law on that would definitely pass soon in the Council of Ministers, and possibly by year’s end in the Parliament. The national police had been trained to assist victims in the rural areas, and shelters had been set up in Dili, the capital, and in three other districts. A study on trafficking and immigration of prostitutes would soon be conducted.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m., on Friday, 31 July, to consider the combined initial to sixth periodic report of Liberia.

For more information on the Timor Leste Presentation Report released by the OHCHR please refer to this link http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/wom1747.doc.htm

Consolidated Suggestions and Recommendations on Closed-List/Packet System for the Suco Election on 9 October 2009

During a roundtable discussion with women partners, there were more than 30 participants representing networks (Rede Feto and FONGTIL) and NGOs including women’s NGOs, CBOs, political parties and UN agencies. Following the introduction of the Executive Director of FONGTIL on the approval of the Law on Community Leaders and the Way the will be Elected (suco election law), the discussion specifically focused on the closed-list or packet system of the election. Suggestions and recommendations made were:

1 To socialize and advocate information about the law and specifically the provision regarding the closed-list system to women’s wings of political parties.
2 Hold meetings with political leaders by using direct approaches e.g. meeting the leaders one by one, meeting the key leaders of political parties and groups as a team, etc.
3 Hold public meetings and discussions with women representatives in suco councils and the women in sucos and aldeias and encouraged them to be listed as candidates and ensure that they win the election.
4 Conduct an interview with current women suco representatives to know their views about the closed-list system, its implications to women’s participation, to know if they are still going to run and obtain their suggestions on how to ensure that women’s participation is increased or sustained.
5 Hold meetings with the media/journalists and encourage them to advocate gender issues and women’s representation in the suco councils.
6 Hold meetings with women parliamentarians (GMPTL) to review the important provisions of the suco law and their support to ensure women’s representation in the packets of candidates and win in the suco election.
7 To ensure that the lists of candidates in each packet in each suco includes women representatives before submission to CNE for approval.
8 Capacity building support or training for women candidates to build their confidence as candidates and future leaders, socialization of their roles and responsibilities as leaders and on gender and gender issues.
9 If possible, in the future all of the candidates have to submit their CVs to ensure they meet the required qualifications and competencies for election in the suco council.
10 Civil societies (international and national/local) need to review their roles and responsibilities to ensure women’s participation and in monitoring the electoral processes.
11 There is a need to work closely with CNE and STAE to make sure that rules and regulations prepared and approved promotes women’s empowerment and gender equality. Continued dissemination or socialization of the approved law through civic education activities, with focus on the women’s proactive participation in the

6 East Timor Women’s Networks Representations Attended the 44th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination

The 44th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will take place from 20 July to 7 August 2009. During the session, the Committee will consider the state reports by Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Denmark, Guinea Bissau, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Japan, Liberia, Spain, Switzerland, Timor Leste, and Tuvalu.
More information can be found at:http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws44.htm

In the mean Time, Members of 6 NGO representative has travel to New York to attend the purpose of the meeting.
The 44th Session on Timor Leste State Report will be conducting on the July 30th New York Times.
The State has submitted the First Initial CEDAW Report as an addition to the Common Core Document Report for several Treaty bodies in 2007.
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N08/617/64/PDF/N0861764.pdf?OpenElement

Thursday, 30 July 2009
899th meeting
Timor-Leste, initial periodic report
(CEDAW/C/TLS/1)
10-10.30 a.m. 4 (continued) Introduction by the representative of the State
party
10.30 a.m.-1 p.m. 4 (continued) Questions by experts and dialogue with the
Committee
900th meeting
3-5 p.m. 4 (continued) Timor-Leste
(continued)
5-6 p.m. 4 (continued) Working Group of the Whole
(closed)
Friday, 31


The Committee also received an NGO Alternative reports including country-specific information
from NGOs. OHCHR posts these 2weeks in advance before the state party presented their reports. documents on its website, under the relevant CEDAW session.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/ngos/NGO_alternaitve_report_TimorLeste_CEDAW44.pdf

we wish NGO Representative will able to share the Results of the Concluding Recommendation and its General Comment while their return in to the East Timor.

Members of NGO representative are as follows:
Head of the NGO Delegation Mrs. Laura Menezes Lopes as well as the CEDAW Alternative report Working groups - CARWG
Rede Feto Action Partner –and Centro Feto Enclave Oecusse Program Manager : Mrs.Sebastiana da Costa Pereira
Director of National FORUM NGO’s of Timor Lestev: Mrs.Dinorah Granadeiro
Director of Judicial System Monitoring Program JSMP ; Mr.Luis Sampaio
Formers Director REDE FETO 2004-2008 : Mrs.Ubalda Alves
Association of Mens against Violence Founder : Mr.Marito de Araujo

For more information on the State Delegation to the 44th session on CEDAW please refer to this link http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/list/TimorLeste_list_cedaw44.pdf

New Featuring Coming up

Hi All
The Sekretariat Pleasent to Share with all of you the new featuring from our Blogsport a titled of
" Special thanks of the Month " this is a long the side of our blogs which our dedication to thanks several womens helped us in some special way and specially something is most important for us happen in the presents of the month.

We are pleasent to start with the JULY special thanks
and will cuntinue to wish share with all of you our best friends in the coming months

Thanks
Abathy

Treinamentu ba Treinadores Halao iha Oecusse ba 50 Pessoa

Hahu iha Loron Kinta 11 Junhu ate Sabadu 13 Junhu 2009, Salao ETPA Oecusse sempre nakonu ho Juventude feto mane, hare ba dader san tuku 8.00 deit ekipa treinadores sira husi CFEO hahu prepara fatin no salao Treinamentu nian. Faski iha loron Permeiru konsege hasoru infrenta loron feriadu Corasaun de Jejus, maibe abertura treinamentu ba Fasilitadore 50 atu halao programa Haforsa Kapasitasaun Feto ba hasoru Eleisaun Suku 2009.

CFEO liu husi Programa HPFIES fornese treinamentu ba Treinadores durante loron 3 konaba Treinamentu Lideransa, Transformasaun Politika no Komunidade. Treinamentu ne'ebe Aberta husi Adjunto Administrador Distrito Oecusse, Fransisco Bano haklaken katak preparasaun ba eleisaun suku 2009 persija liu tulun husi Feto no Mane hotu liu-liu sira ne'ebe mak atu sai formadores tengki iha neon brani no aten boot hodi fo koragem diak liu tan ba feot maluk sira hodi aktifa iha eleisaun suku tuir mai.
Durante kada oras 8 iha kada loron, partisipantes nebe kompostu husi feto 25 no mane 25 nee hetan topiku kona ba transformasaun lideransa, transformasaun komunidade no transformasaun politika.

Maria de Fatima Maia nudar Trenador Nasional ba TOT nee hateten katak, topiku no konseptus hirak nee mak fundamental liu atu transfere ba Treinador Regiona l sira hodi nune iha Fulan hirak oin mai sira se prontu ona atu kapasita liu tan fali Feto Maluk Potensial sira iha eleisaun suku 2009.

Hamutuk iha abertura TOT nee, alende Adjunto Administrador Distrito Oecusse, acompanha mos husi Direktora CFEO Sebastiana Pereira, Konvidados sira no mos Diretora REDE FETO nasional Yasinta Lujinha.

Noemia Sequeira nudar Koordenador programa HPFIES hatoo ba Media lokal sira importansia husi atifidades TOT ba maluk 50 pessoa fasilitadores sira nee atu bele kontirbui ba CFEO ninia programa atu kapasita ba potensial feto sira ne'ebe sei partisipa fali husi kada suku iha treinamentu tuir mai.

Imaculada de Araujo, tinan 25 feto maluk husi partisipantes ida hateten katak ida nee permeiru fes ba nia partisipa iha treinamentu ida ne'ebe nakonu ho animasaun, atifidades i loke duni nia hanoin ba politika no lideransa liu-liu ba feto rurais sira.

Iha loron terseiru dia antes ba remata treinamentu nian, Direktora REDE FETO taka atifidades nee ho hatoo ninia emphasia ba kbiit no motivasaun ne'ebe nia rasik hare hatudu duni ona husi Maluk fasilitadores sira liu-liu 50 pessoa nee tamba nee nia husu atu kuntinua mantein sira nia knaar hanesan fasilitadores foun ba CFEO hodi kontribui ba programa HPFIES.

ba infromasaun klaru liu tan bele kontaku Noemia Sequeira, Koordenador HPFIES CFEO liu husi

centrofeto_enclaveoecusse@yahoo.com

Fulan Ida depois Nakroma la Opera

Loron Sabadu, tuku 9. Dader, Hanesan Babain, Merkadu Numbey Oecusse nakonu ho bajar nain sira. Mikrolet sira hatun dadauk pasangeirus sira nebe'e mai dadauk husi cidade oecusse nian, maibe interestante liu mak mikrolet husi parte liur area sub distrito menus iha loron ne'e.

Feto Maluk Sira husi CFEO hakbesik aan dadauk ba mikrolet jalur luar kota nian hodi husu tanba saa mak oras tuku 9 deit sira la halai ona" Ami lahetan penumpang mana, kuaje ema latun husi foho mai tamba sira dehan sira nia familia sira ba iha Dili buka sasan no too ohin loron sidauk fila,,,, alende nee, eskola oan sira mos sidauk feriadu no ami mos laiha lisensa atu halai iha cidade laran".

resposta ne'e hatan kondis los ho inan Maria Agnes nebe'e CFEO hasoru tuur hela iha Ai Sukaer hun faan nia Masmidar Karong Ida. Maria hatan katak, Masmidar nee agora folin kupu kiik ida tengki faan ho 0.25 centavos, maski antes nee faan ho 0.10 cen.

Maria Hateten katak nia kaben, Agustinho Bento tuir lolos nia haruka ba Dili iha Fulan Abril Depois paskoah remata atu hola tan masmidar karong 5, maibe to ohin loron, Maria nia Kaben sidauk bele fila tamba laiha Roo ahi Nakroma.

Reasaun makaas mos mai husi Filomena Afoan, Empresariu lokal nebe'e hetan Subsidiu husi Governu hodi faan Fos MTCI iha Merkadu Tono. Filomena sidauk bele kuntinua faan fos nee tamba to agora laiha stock iha nia Gudang. No Filomena nia Kaben laiha Kbiit atu Uja medidas Dalan Darat ou trasa Indonesia hodi hatama Foss MTCI tamba folin nebe se gasta se lahanesan ho folin nebe'e nia se hetan.

Kondisaun ida ne'e halo Fos MTCI agora mamuk iha Oecusse no Konsumidores sira tengki halai ba buka Fos ho Marka seluk ho Folin ne'ebe as liu. Folin Fos Lokal nebe Konhesidu ho Mamramu sae husi 18 kada 35 Kilo ba 25 depois de Nakroma Para.

alende ne'e nesesidades basiku seluk hanesan Mina, Masmidar, Mantolun no Supermi sae kauje kada semana.

Kondisoens ne'e tuir observasaun se kuntinua sae makaas iha fulan oin mai nia laran se karik Governu laiha aksaun atu tulun meius transporte maritima hodi liga fali Kapital Dili-Oecusse iha fulan ne'e nia laran.

Estabelesementu Akordu Servisu ho Radio Komunidade Oecusse

Hahu iha ninia inisiu kampanya ba MAI HO AMI SUPPORTA FETO IHA ELEISAUN , Sekretariadu CFEO liu husi Ekipa projeitu Haforsa Kapasitasaun feto iha Eleisaun Suku 2009 estabelese ona akordu servisu ida entre CFEO ho RCAL, Radio Komunidade Atoni Lifau.

Lalaok husi Akordu nee, se hare liu ba Meiu husi Mediu hanesan Radio bele foka no hatoo informasaun nebe'e sensitifu diak liu tan ba Rona nain sira iha Distrito Oecusse kona ba Oinsa Feto sira mos bele partisipa aktifamente iha Eleisaun Suku tuir mai iha fulan hirak oin mai.

Akordu nee, hare mos atu oinsa CFEO no RCAL bele realisa promosauniha Dalen Baikenu no Tetum hodi encouragem Maluk Feto sira nebe'e iha potensia boot hodi atifu iha planu ba kandidataan inklui oinsa hatene informasaun basiku balun ba eleisaun suku 2009.

Noemia Sequeira, Officiais Projeitu ba CFEO, hateten katak, hamutuk total orsamentu $ 661.oo US Dolar maka kontribui husi CFEO ba kapasitasaun fornesementu operasaun programa hirak nebe RCAL sei Trasa. Manager RCAL nebe'e aseita akordu nee, hatudu husi sira nia assinatura ba MOU entre parte rua iha loron nee kedas, loron segunda, Dia 15 Maiu 2009 iha Edifisiu RCAL distrito Oecusse.

Akordu ne'e mos hakruuk ba MOU nebe asina hamutuk entre RCAL no CFEO atu mantein katak, objetifu husi akordu parte rua ne'e sei hetan tuir ninia indikador.

CFEO se halo afaliasaun iha Fulan Junhu antes de Eleisaun hodi hare ba futuru kuntinuasaun husi Programa supporta feto iha eleisaun suku 2009 liu husi Radio Komunidade Atoni Lifau.

ba Informasaun klaru liu tan bele kontaku :

Noemia Sequeira, project Officer HPFIES

centrofeto_enclaveoecusse@yahoo.com