WOMEN RIGHTS PROGRAMME

The project on Human Rights is aimed to promote women’s rights amongst the women NGOs and rural women at the districts as part of their rights as human beings under the universal law. The project also covers the promotion on how the law can protect them. The total budget for this project is US$ 10,262.85 and implemented by three members of Rede Feto namely; APSC-TL, GFFTL and FMF in the districts of Aileu, Baucau and Liquica.

The project commenced on 16 November 2006 to February 2007 with the following objectives; a) to develop capacity of NGOs on women’s rights which is guaranteed in the laws of RDTL; and b) to disseminate information on women’s rights which is guaranteed in the laws of RDTL to rural women. Before implementing the activity, the Rede Feto Executive Body conducted three planning meetings with the proposed implementing NGO members of Rede Feto. The result of these meeting was a clear definition of the functions and responsibilities of the three NGOs and Rede Feto Executive Body. Specifically, the Rede Feto Executive Body will be responsible of the overall supervision of the project whilst APSC-TL takes the lead role in the implementation in partnership with FMF and GFTTL. Apart from this, it was decided to conduct 9 workshops in each of the three districts.

Training of Trainers (TOT)

Rede Feto executive body conducted a one-day Trainers of Training (TOT) on human rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for the three NGO-members under the Women’s Rights Project facilitated by a resource person from the Office of Human Rights of government. The discussion was focused on human rights in relation to CEDAW and guidelines on how to facilitate the same training at the village level. The workshop was conducted at the office of Rede Feto with 10 participants; 6 from implementing NGOs and 4 staff members of Rede Feto from the Executive Body. One important issue that was raised during the workshop was on victims of rape cases who finds out that that they were pregnant and decided to undergo abortion – are they considered as a human rights violation or not? This issue was not responded by the resource person but offered to have a further discussion at the Human Rights of United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and will inform Rede Feto about the answer.

Prepared a training module on human rights

The Capacity Building Officer of Rede Feto adapted a training module on human rights training based on the TOT module of the Office of Human Rights of government. The module covers the four human rights basic principles; human rights being universal, inherence, inviolate and indecisive, and the definition and history of human rights, the seven treaties signed and ratified by RDTL. The module has been printed and distributed to three members NGOs implementing the project n the villages or sucos.

Conducted 2 Workshops in the district of Aileu

On 9-10 January, APCS-TL conducted a two-day workshop in Kotolao village, at Laulara sub- district in the district of Aileu. The total participants were 36 female representing four hamlets or aldeias of Ramelau, Binana, Ornay and Kotolau. The training was formally opened by the sub-district administrator and the Executive Director of Rede Feto.

During the workshop, the participants were very active and 85% of them were able to understand about human rights and women’s rights. The women requested to involve men in the conduct of the same workshop so that both women and men are able to understand their rights to ensure that the problems of the women are resolved. They explained that oftentimes, there encounter problems when they want to participate in politics and decision making with their husbands; fathers and brothers will not allow them. They will just follow the decisions of their husbands and families because they were not aware of women’s rights. The second workshop was conducted on 11-12 January at Talito village, sub-district of Laulara in the same district. There was a total of 36 female participants representing the aldeias of Talitu and Casmaututo. The participants were very interested on human rights with focus on women’s rights. The discussions had enriched their knowledge in human rights and how it affected and helped them. They requested to continue similar activities in their hamlets because they need more information considering the very strong patriarchal system in the country and to reach out to more women. Moreover, they raised their problems related to lack of electric facilities in their hamlets and most of ther children suffer from respiratory via acuter (ISPA) due to the gasoline they use to provide them light in the evenings. Apart from this, they also recommended for Rede Feto to lobby at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAP) the need to provide them with seeds to grow in their lands.

Published a brochure on human rights and CEDAW

The APSC-TL designed a brochure on human rights and CEDAW. The 750 copies of the brochure were distributed to Rede Feto NGO-members, stakeholders and communities in the rural areas.