1.Improved protection of women and girls through the establishment of legal frameworks and mechanisms to uphold their rights. 2.Reduced vulnerability of women and girls through improved outreach mechanisms and services and the establishment of a social protection scheme. 3.Improved social and economic situation of women and girls through a fair allocation of resources using gender-responsive budgeting.
Despite the efforts undertaken by the UN and the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) to address gender inequalities since the independence of Timor-Leste in 1999, there are still outstanding issues that need to be addressed in a holistic way to improve the conditions of women and girls. The outstanding problems are as follows:
Women and girls are still vulnerable to violence and internal conflict, particularly in relation to gender-based violence and human trafficking. Existing lacunas in the legislative framework and service delivery have had a detrimental effect on women and girl’s security and well-being. Little to no social services is in place to respond to victims of violence, exploitation and abuse, including women and girls, especially in rural areas. Women and girls are still discriminated against in the areas of health, education and economic development with government services and opportunities not responding appropriately to their needs and with little allocation of resources to guarantee this. Women and girls from female-headed households in poverty-stricken districts and trafficking-prone areas are less likely to benefit from traditional forms of social safety nets, thus increasing their vulnerability. Lack of sex-disaggregated data in all sectors remains a major problem.
The proposed Joint Programme (JP) “Supporting Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in Timor-Leste” is a three-year programme that supports the GoTL to improve the conditions of women and girls in Timor-Leste through the protection of their rights and their empowerment. It offers them fair access to social and economic resources by increasing their access to entitlements and rights. The JP has been developed and will be implemented by five UN agencies in partnership with government agencies and structures at national and district levels and in collaboration with relevant civil society organisations and individuals to build institutional capacity to address the above problems.
The JP will support an environment to establish legal frameworks to end domestic violence and human trafficking by enabling women and girls to claim their rights. These legal frameworks establish norms, standards and practices for the GoTL to operationalise programmes i.e. services, outreach mechanisms, social protection scheme to reduce vulnerability of women and girls as well as improving protection for them. The JP also focuses on budget as an influential policy instrument of the government to ensure government’s financial commitment to programmes that will impact on the lives of women and girls. This is in line with the current priorities of the GoTL in social protection and solidarity by improving social service delivery though national planning of the budget and execution for performance and accountability.
Legislation passed and national action plans developed to prevent and combat domestic violence and human trafficking. Capacity building programme developed to upgrade the knowledge and skills of government officials, NGOs and CBOs involved in implementing action plans related to combating domestic violence and human trafficking at national and local levels. Information, education and communication strategies developed and implemented on domestic violence and human trafficking at national and local levels. Technical support provided for improving the design and implementation of on-going conditional cash transfer (CCT) schemes of the Ministry of Social Solidarity. National and local referral services and mechanisms established and/or strengthened for the protection of victims of gender-based violence and human trafficking.
