UNIFEM IN EAST TIMOR

East Timor is a new country still coping with the impact of a generation of violence and political struggle. When East Timor gained independence from Indonesia in September 1999, hundreds were killed and thousands were displaced from their homes.

UNIFEM Bangkok is working to involve East Timorese women in the nation building process, in partnership with government, United Nations and other international organisations. To help address the needs of East Timorese women, UNIFEM has two major programmes:

• Promoting Women’s Leadership for Peace-building and Gender Justice is under the umbrella of the global programme on Women’s Leadership for Peace-building and Gender Justice; and

• Gender, Globalization and Marketing: Timor Tais Weaving Project, is a small part of a UNIFEM East and South East Asia sub-regional program on Gender, Globalization and Marketing. Tais are the traditional handwoven textiles of East Timor.

Earlier, completed activities included:

• Institutional support for a national network of women's organisations (REDE);
• Coommunity-based trauma counselling with the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC); and
• Support for women's participation in the 2001 elections, including sections on
  • Training for women candidates in East Timor's first election,
  • Women Political Candidates Running for the Constituent Assembly, and
  • Women Elected to be 26% of the Constituent Assembly.

UNIFEM Executive Director Noeleen Heyzer and Xanana Gusmao, then President CNRT.