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Volunteers like Tomé (foreground) bring a message of gender equality
to men in communities around East Timor. (Photo by
AMKV.)
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USAID/East Timor is supporting efforts to strengthen
civil society,
build an independent media, enforce the rule of law,
and improve women’s
human rights through the following projects:
Strengthening Independent Media
USAID supports independent media and community-based
radio stations with partners Internews and the media
outlets that serve as an instrument of inclusion and
gender balance, giving women a voice in local affairs. The
program encourages women reporters, station managers,
technicians, and other staff to highlight and disseminate
women's
issues and empower women's
decision making. Internews monitors the quality and
content of independent media with a media monitoring
unit, including a measure of how women are portrayed
in the media.
Association of Men Against Violence (AMKV)
USAID supported the Association of Men Against Violence
in organizing a six-month national campaign against
gender-based violence. The campaign, in collaboration
with women's organizations
and volunteers, conducted rural workshops, promoted
publicity in districts using posters, banners, newsletters
and billboards, and raised men's awareness
of gender issues.
Domestic Violence Legislation
USAID helped draft East Timor's domestic violence legislation.
In association with local women's organizations, gender violence experts,
the Ministry of Justice, the police, and the government's gender equity
staff, domestic violence models were analyzed to understand
their effect on women, and legislation that could curtail
violence was drafted. The Timorese media was invited
to publicize the events.
Gender-based Violence Research
USAID supported the International Rescue Committee's research on gender-based
violence in East Timor. More than 60 women were interviewed.
Some of the recommendations
include formalizing the relationship between
the local-level and the formal justice system, training
and sensitizing the police force to gender-based violence,
and establishing services to assist and support victims.
Domestic Violence Justice Support
USAID helped the Judicial System Monitoring Programme establish its Women's Justice Unit. The Unit provides legal aid for victims of domestic violence and is the first organization to collect data and monitor court cases concerned with domestic violence.
Survivors of Torture
USAID supports the International Catholic Migration Commission in its
efforts to raise public awareness of the need to support
victimized neighbors, especially women and survivors
of torture. The program provides local partners with
training, technical assistance, and small grants to
deliver basic services to survivors of torture and
families of victims of torture, promotes community awareness,
and conducts information campaigns. The program also
promotes a working partnership between government and
civil society.
East Timor Program Objectives
Economic Governance
Health
Legal Rights
Governance
Women's Literacy
Civil Society
Selected Activities
Bila Bala Pottery Project
Cooperative Café Timor
Irrigation Projects
Microfinace Support
Health Care Services (Cooperative Café Timor)
Civic Forum
Women's Communication Forum
Women's Caucus
FHA Literacy Project
Strengthening Independent Media
Association of Men Against Violence (AMKV)
Domestic Violence Legislation
Gender-based Violence Research
Domestic Violence Justice Support
Survivors of Torture
Visit USAID/East Timor link to the Mission
Global Snapshots: East
Timor
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