Unmit Newsletter 17 August 2009

UNMIT NEWSLETTER

Issue No 96 17 August 2009

United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste

30 August: 10-year anniversary of the Popular Consultation National unity campaign and special

To promote the theme of One Land, One

UNAMET photographic exhibition.

Nation, One Future, radio and television

T » UNMIT Design/ Poster for the national unity campaign.

his year marks the 10-year anni-

programmes are being broadcast and

versary since the Popular Consul-

banners and posters displayed across

tation held on 30 August 1999. To

the country. UNMIT is helping to share

commemorate this important anniver-

the story of how the United Nations

sary, UNMIT is assisting the Presidency

conducted the 30 August 1999 ballot

with a national unity campaign reflect-

by offering a public photographic exhi-

ing on the courageous achievement of

bition hosted by President José Ramos

the Timorese people to exercise their

Horta at the President’s Palace starting

right to self-determination in 1999,

from 27 August. The photos displayed

linking this with the spirit required to

help tell part of the story of the events

building lasting peace and prosperity

of 1999. A DVD slide show of the exhibi-

in Timor-Leste.

tion is being distributed in the districts.

Timor-Leste signs UN joint programme on sustainable food and nutrition security

New study released on sexual and gender-based violence in Covalima and Bobonaro

O

ver US3.5 million dollars for nutrition has been allocated by the UN Millennium Development Goal Achievement Fund for Timor-Leste. The 3-year funding will target pregnant and breastfeeding women and their under-five children as well as primary school children from Aileu, Baucau, Manatuto and Oecussi Districts. The programme contributes to the national effort in accelerating the reduction of child and maternal under-nutrition and includes a comprehensive information programme to make the targeted communities more aware of food security and nutrition issues. The programme was signed by the Minister for Economy and Development João Mendes Gonçalves on behalf of Government of Timor-Leste and the Deputy

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T » UNMIT Photo/Antoninho Bernardino Minister João Mendes Gonçalves and DSRSG Finn Reske-Nielsen signing the document.

Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral Finn Reske-Nielsen on behalf of the UN. The programme is set to begin later this year and will be implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, and the Food and

radition, culture of silence, domination and inequality, ignorance of rights, the lack of law, weakness of the judicial system, as well as economic dependence are among the key factors that make women more vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence. These issues were revealed in a recently released baseline study on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) undertaken in selected communities within the districts of Covalima and Bobonaro. The districts were chosen because of their geographical isolation from Dili and because they are known to be more prone to human trafficking. Launched by the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI), Ms. Idelta Rodrigues, the study shows how patriarchal beliefs of women’s role in Timorese society, religion

Agricultural Organization.

Not official document – for information only.

and preconceived notion of sexuality make the subject of SGBV almost taboo. At the launch, Ms. Rodrigues stressed that sexual assault is not about sex but about power and reflects the extent to which the basic human rights of women and children are undervalued in Timorese society. She emphasized that abuse needs to be understood before recovery can even begin and for many women the first step to dealing with any of sexual abuse is to break their silence.

The research was conducted by the Asia Pacific Support Collective in Timor-Leste from May to October 2007. Field observations included staying with survivors of SGBV in their shelters and safe houses. Researchers found that organized prostitution and internal trafficking usually occurs from poorer, remote areas. In these areas, parents often lack information and education about human rights. Young women are often forced into situations of abuse and sexual exploitation mainly due to financial need by their parents.

The baseline study is part of a global UNIFEM programme, Supporting Women’s Engagement in Peace Building and Preventing Sexual Violence: Community-led Approaches. It is an on-going effort to engage community decision-makers, local police and informal institutions to respond to the needs of women during and after the conflict. The findings will be used as information and basic reference for the service providers to plan and better address the needs of the sexual violence victims.

Public Defender’s office as shelter for people seeking justice

“

We hope that this office becomes a shelter for those who seek justice,” said the Minister for Justice Lucia Lobato during her speech at the inauguration of Public Defender’s office in Oecussi, 11 August 2009. “It sometimes takes a long time to process cases due to a lack of human resources and it is the duty of all sectors, including the Government, Court of Appeals and the Prosecutor’s Office, to take responsible action by providing justice to the community as a whole,” she further explained. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this office is part of a wider programme by the Government to bring access to justice closer

» UNMIT Photo/Hipolito da Cruz The new Public Defender’s Office in Oecussi.

to the people. “A citizen’s access to justice, including the possibility of legal aid, has been a long standing challenge in Oecussi, and today’s inauguration is another step in changing this reality and symbolizes the government responsibility to protect citizen’s rights,” said UNDP Country Director

Akbar Usmani. “The Public Defender is a key player in protecting and fulfilling the legal guarantee for all citizens. UNDP will continue to maintain its commitment to the justice sector. One Public Defender will be stationed in the Oecussi office and will be responsible for coordinating with the court, the prosecutor’s office and the police as well as attending to the general public. The Public Defender has legal powers to protect the rights of every citizen including their human rights, civil rights, electoral rights and labour rights. Other functions of Office include to advise on judicial procedures and inform citizens of their rights and obligations under the law.

WFP/Government school feeding and foodfor-work programmes get boost with rice donation

T

he United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received 1,565 metric tons of rice purchased with funding from the Government of Japan. “Japan has assisted Timor-Leste through WFP every year since 2005 and the value of its assistance amounts to approximately US$6.2 million,” said Japanese Ambassador Mr. Iwao Kitahara. WFP will use most of the rice as part of the joint Government/WFP School Feeding Programme which provides mid-morning meals to 224,000 primary school-aged children in all 13 districts. The School Feeding programme is designed to help

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increase enrollment, reduce the rate of dropouts, improve daily attendance and increase the capacity of children to learn while at school. Part of the rice will be also used in rural development activities in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture through WFP’s food-for-work/assets programme. About 50,000 people will receive the rice during the lean season in exchange for their work on the creation or rehabilitation of productive rural assets. These include the reclamation of land through terracing, small-scale irrigation works, water conservation to protect against spells of drought, and the rehabilitation

» UNMIT Photo/Martine Perret A mother cooking the food as part of the School Feeding programme.

of access roads for communities that are often affected by natural disasters and consequently isolated from markets and services. “Some 275,000 people in the country will benefit from this gift,” said Mr. Joan Fleuren, WFP Representative.

Not official document – for information only.