Displaying 51676 - 51700 of 58126 recommendations found
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:AlgeriaAlgeriaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICALIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the CRPDExplanationTimor-Leste attaches great importance to the rights of the persons with disabilities and reaffirms its commitment to finalize soon the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities and to continue to implement the obligations under the Convention, especially through the National Policy for the Inclusion and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Mental Health Strategy.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 22) Timor-Leste acknowledges that it has not yet ratified the CRPD, however now it is making preparations for the ratification process. The Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFAC) has established a team to make preparations for ratification.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:CanadaCanadaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOASOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify immediately the CRPD, and establish the planned National Council on Disability after, rather than prior to, ratification to ensure a speedy ratification processExplanationTimor-Leste attaches great importance to the rights of the persons with disabilities and reaffirms its commitment to finalize soon the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities and to continue to implement the obligations under the Convention, especially through the National Policy for the Inclusion and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Mental Health Strategy.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 22) Timor-Leste acknowledges that it has not yet ratified the CRPD, however now it is making preparations for the ratification process. The Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFAC) has established a team to make preparations for ratification.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:MalaysiaMalaysiaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupASEANOICCommonwealthIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Intensify efforts in recognizing and highlighting the contribution of women to national economic, social and political development, uplifting women from poverty, and providing victims with adequate protection and resource to justice in cases of violence against womenExplanationTimor-Leste is committed to promote the rights of women, establish gender equality and combat gender-based violence through a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach. Even though the promotion and protection of women’s rights represent a big challenge for the Timorese society, it also remains a priority and the Government is doing a great effort to highlight the contribution of woman to national and political development, particularly investing in the areas of education, economics and political participation.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 70) Legislation in Timor-Leste gives priority to women to participate in political life, therefore there is a special quota for women. The Law on Election to the National Parliament states that the effective and supplementary list of candidates must include at least one woman in every three persons.
Para 71) Law No. 9/2016 on Community Leaders states that the presentation of candidacies for Village Chief and Sub-Village Chief must contain at least one woman and the village council shall comprise one female delegate and one female youth representative, and this law also states that there must be one woman in the electoral team.
Para 72) The participation of women in political life in Timor-Leste continues to change, and in 2017 during the Parliamentary Elections there were 26 female members of the National Parliament, and women were elected as secretary of the chair, and first vice secretary and two deputies.
Para 73) After the General Parliamentary Elections in 2017, in 2018 Timor-Leste held early elections and 22 females were elected as members of the National Parliament and one woman was elected as First Vice-President of the National Parliament, First Secretary to the Chair of the National Parliament and two women as Committee Presidents.
Para 74) Also, in each successive government there has been an increase in women’s participation at the executive level, namely assuming positions as members of government, whereby in the eighth government from 2018-2023 there were seven female members of Government, three Ministers, one Vice Prime Minister, three Vice-Ministers, and one Secretary of State.
Para 75) Women’s participation is not just at the national level but also at the village level, with each successive period showing a significant change in women’s involvement, as 319 women nominated themselves as candidates for Village Chief in 2016 and 21 of them were elected as Village Chief.
Para 76) The State maintained the Dili Declaration to empower women’s economic autonomy, through entrepreneurship, or creation of work for themselves as an essential factor in achieving the sustainable development goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, especially in reducing poverty through the allocation of a gender sensitive State budget each year. The State continues to develop all efforts to reform and uphold women’s economic rights and equal access to economic resources, so they can have access to property and to promote full employment and dignified work. Starting in 2019 the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion (SEI) implemented an economic development program for women to provide support to women’s groups though the public transfers of funds, and 106 women’s groups received publicly transferred funds between 2019-2020. The SEI has continued to promote women’s participation through training and capacity building in important areas such as leadership, management, accountability and finance, and also has created training centres in all municipalities.
Para 80) The Government works with non-government organizations and has established safe and protected places for victims and survivors, offering temporary accommodation, including attending to victims and survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, the sexual abuse of children, or trafficking. Now there are safe rooms at the national hospital, referral hospitals and health centres in four municipalities and safe room services are provided by PRADET.
Para 81) Also shelters have been established, as part of a collaboration between the Government and civil society organisations. In 2018, there were safe shelters in all of the 13 municipalities that also guarantee the safety of victims of gender-based violence and shelters also provide training on livelihood skills with the aim of reintegrating victims into the community who have the capacity to make a living.
UN Compilation:
Para 49) The United Nations country team also noted that gender-based violence was recognized as one of the most pervasive and widespread human rights concerns in TimorLeste, with three in five (59 per cent) ever-partnered women (aged 15–49 years) having experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Of these, 86 per cent had not sought assistance from formal agencies, services or other authorities.
Para 51) The United Nations country team noted that in the 2017 elections, 49 per cent of voters had been women. In 2020, women had held 38 per cent of National Parliament seats, above the regional average (19 per cent) and the global average (26 per cent). However, women were still underrepresented in other key decision-making positions.
Para 52) It also noted that there had been an increase in women’s participation in the formal labour force but that gender disparities remained. Despite the fact that by 2019, 45.7 per cent of the total labour force had constituted women, there was a gender pay gap of 16 per cent in formal employment.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 39) … Many victims of past gender-based violence and their children remained without adequate support services from the state.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:New ZealandNew ZealandRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Training for state personnel on sexual rights issues
- Domestic violence
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Make urgent strides towards decreasing domestic violence by ensuring that laws, policies and practices in relation to domestic violence are in line with Timor-Leste’s obligations under the CEDAW, and ensure law enforcement officials receive training to implement these lawsExplanationTimor-Leste is strongly committed to combat all forms of gender-based violence. Discrimination based on sex is prohibited by law. Timor-Leste has taken and will continuously take a number of measures to prevent, combat and decrease discrimination and violence based on sex, especially against women.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 35) The Government of Timor-Leste has adopted many measures to combat violence against women and children. The Government of Timor-Leste through the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion has produced a national action plan for gender-based violence 2017-2020, with four important pillars, namely: the prevention of gender-based violence, providing services to victims, access to justice for victims, and coordination, monitoring and assessment of initiatives that have been developed. In 2020 the Government launched a Spotlight Initiative program with the aim of combatting gender-based violence such as violence against women and girls.
Para 77) The Government acknowledges that gender-based violence continues to occur, especially against women, however the Government continues to endeavour to reduce gender-based violence in Timor-Leste.
Para 78) The Government has launched a National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence 2017-2021 as a State commitment to resolve problems to reduce and eradicate gender-based violence that affects women, men and children in the community through coordination and the inclusive participation of all entities.
Para 79) The State has a policy of continuing to promote and protect women and girls so they can enjoy their rights and continues to reduce discrimination in public and private institutions including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, early marriage and forced marriage practices and provides equal opportunities to women to be leaders at the political level.
Para 80) The Government works with non-government organizations and has established safe and protected places for victims and survivors, offering temporary accommodation, including attending to victims and survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, the sexual abuse of children, or trafficking. Now there are safe rooms at the national hospital, referral hospitals and health centres in four municipalities and safe room services are provided by PRADET.
Para 81) Also shelters have been established, as part of a collaboration between the Government and civil society organisations. In 2018, there were safe shelters in all of the 13 municipalities that also guarantee the safety of victims of gender-based violence and shelters also provide training on livelihood skills with the aim of reintegrating victims into the community who have the capacity to make a living.
Para 82) To prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the workplace, the Public Service Commission has created a mechanism for reporting sexual harassment, and the Rosa CHATBOT facilitates reporting of gender-based violence in specific cases relating to sexual harassment that is committed by Public Servants in the workplace or in a public place. The Rosa CHATBOT protects the identity of those who make a complaint.
UN Compilation:
Para 9) The Committee against Torture commended Timor-Leste for its initiatives to amend its policies and procedures in order to afford greater protection of human rights and to apply the Convention against Torture, in particular the adoption of the second National Action Plan on Gender-based Violence (2017–2021);
Para 27) The Special Rapporteur noted that, in terms of access to justice and compliance with human rights standards, there were shortcomings in both the formal justice system and the customary justice system. In the customary justice system, hearings were commonly conducted in public, which was clearly unsuitable for crimes relating to emotionally vulnerable victims of domestic violence and child abuse. Some customary justice practices might entail physical punishments, in contravention of international human rights law.
Para 49) The United Nations country team also noted that gender-based violence was recognized as one of the most pervasive and widespread human rights concerns in TimorLeste, with three in five (59 per cent) ever-partnered women (aged 15–49 years) having experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Of these, 86 per cent had not sought assistance from formal agencies, services or other authorities. Women and girls with disabilities, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons, were at an even higher risk of violence, often perpetrated by family members.
Para 50) The Committee against Torture expressed concern about the reluctance of Timor-Leste to criminalize marital rape and incest as distinct crimes, and expressed regret at the lack of information provided on the number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sentences imposed in cases of gender-based violence against women.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 11) PDHJ highlighted that the formal judicial process did not provide for an accessible, fast and coherent result that ensured victims of domestic violence safety and livelihood. This caused those victims to turn to traditional justice mechanisms and remedies that might not integrate a human rights perspective.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:MexicoMexicoRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIACSIssue:
- Intersex persons' rights
- Discrimination based on sexual orientation
- Discrimination based on gender identity
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Amend its Constitution to include sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status as prohibited grounds of discrimination.
ExplanationTimor-Leste has not yet made a commitment to implement these recommendations now because they are not in accordance with the perspective of Timor-Leste’s society
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Gender equality
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
- Training for state personnel on sexual rights issues
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:Reference AddressedContents:In this regard, JS1 recommended that the Government should legislate mandatory continuing legal education for judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers on gender equality, women’s human rights and root causes of violence against women. [Para 39] -
State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:GeorgiaGeorgiaRegional groupEEGIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:AcceptedContents:Continue working on strengthening the legal framework and adoption of effective measures to address the gender-based violence.
ExplanationTimor-Leste has promoted the rights and welfare of women through policies and a national action plan on gender equality, has increased women’s participation in the political decision-making process, has strengthened the framework of legal measures on gender-based violence, has combatted violence against women, and girls and has strengthened measures to combat domestic violence against women and girls. … Timor-Leste supports these recommendations to engage in efforts to further improve the percentage of women within formal work arrangements, to strengthen their capacity to actively participate in supply chains and markets, to further reduce sexual violence and gender-based violence, to further combat gender-based violence and promote gender equality and pay more attention to violence against women and children including violence based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Domestic violence
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:NeglectedContents:The CEDAW noted with concern that the fault-based divorce system enshrined in the Civil Code put women, including women who were victims of domestic violence, at a disadvantage. [Para 38] -
State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- International human rights instruments
- Gender equality
Type:Review DocumentationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:N/AContents:The State of Timor-Leste recognizes that as a State party to most international human rights treaties it has been late in submitting reports to the respective bodies since those treaties were ratified. Although it has been late in doing so, the State of Timor-Leste has complied with its obligations as a State party, and has used its full capacity to prepare its initial report and periodic report on the CEDAW, initial report on the CRC with a combined second and third report, initial report on the ICRMW and initial report on the CAT. Currently the State of Timor-Leste is engaging in a public consultation to draft its initial report on the ICCPR and will endeavor to prepare and submit its initial reports on the ICESCR ... [Para 10] -
State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:SpainSpainRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOEIIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's participation
Type:RecommendationSession:12th session, October 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Continue efforts to ensure gender equality and participation of women in public institutions, including local institutions, as well as in the private sectorImplementation"UN Compilation: Para 44) The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women welcomed the
adoption of Law No. 7/2011 establishing electoral lists of standing and alternate candidates,
which must include at least one woman in each group of three candidates. It was,
however, concerned that women in Timor-Leste continued to face persistent barriers to gain
access to decision-making positions, and that women’s representation in government decision-making positions remained low at 20 per cent and the proportion of female village chiefs was extremely low at 2 per cent.
Para 47) The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women welcomed the adoption of the Labour Code (Law No. 4/2012) guaranteeing equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and prohibiting verbal, non-verbal and physical sexual harassment" -
State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Birth registration
Type:Review DocumentationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:Reference AddressedContents:[The United Nations country team] recommended that Timor-Leste bring birth registration services closer to beneficiaries, especially in rural areas, while making the administrative process more effective and less costly. [Para 15]
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:AustriaAustriaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- Domestic violence
Type:RecommendationSession:12th session, October 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Make the Law against Domestic Violence widely known to public officials and society and monitor its effectiveness.Implementation"National Report:
Para 12) To guarantee effective and adequate protection for the implementation of the law against domestic violence, the State, through the Ministry of Social Solidarity has managed to implement programs such as the establishment of a protection network for victims of domestic violence and gender based violence in 13 municipalities, has increased the capacity of the national network of support centers to provide direct assistance to shelters through training on operational procedures, has reintegrated victims in the community after they have left shelters, has provided psycho-social support to victims and public awareness raising and the implementation of operational procedures for the referral networks, management of cases on a database which is based on monitoring activities.
UN Compilation: Para 43) Timor-Leste guarantees effective and adequate protection through the implementation of the law against domestic violence, and the State, through the MSS, has managed to implement programs such as a protection network for victims of domestic violence and gender based violence in 12 municipalities as well as the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse, and has increased the capacity of the national network of support centers to provide direct assistance to shelters through training based on operational standards, has reintegrated victims in communities after they have left shelters, has supported the psycho-social needs of victim and raised public awareness and implemented operational standards to the referral networks, and has provided case management case through a database based on monitoring activities " -
State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:MexicoMexicoRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIACSIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the CRPD.ExplanationTimor-Leste supports these recommendations and reaffirms its commitment to finalize the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to ratify the Convention on Indigenous Persons, the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention No. 169 of the International Labour Organization, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Cruel Treatment.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:NepalNepalRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:AcceptedContents:Consider ratifying the CRPD.ExplanationTimor-Leste supports these recommendations and reaffirms its commitment to finalize the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to ratify the Convention on Indigenous Persons, the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention No. 169 of the International Labour Organization, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Cruel Treatment.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:PolandPolandRegional groupEEGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:AcceptedContents:Improve the protection and promotion of rights of persons with disabilities as well as their access to health-care, education and justice by, among others, concluding the processes of ratification of the CRPD and approval of the national plan for persons with disabilities for the period 2021-2030.ExplanationTimor-Leste supports these recommendations and reaffirms its commitment to finalize the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to ratify the Convention on Indigenous Persons, the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention No. 169 of the International Labour Organization, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Cruel Treatment.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:BotswanaBotswanaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUCommonwealthIssue:
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:AcceptedContents:Set up measures to provide legislative and programmatic safeguards to protect children from discrimination, child labour, forced labour, human trafficking, sexual trafficking and exploitation.ExplanationTimor-Leste is committed to continuing efforts to provide legislative and programmatic safeguards to protect children from discrimination, child labour, forced labour, human trafficking, sexual trafficking and exploitation including the provision of training to human resources to properly identify victims of human trafficking.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:CyprusCyprusRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupEUOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
- Sexual violence
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:AcceptedContents:Take measures to ease access to justice, including for victims of sexual and gender-based violence.ExplanationTimor-Leste has promoted the rights and welfare of women through policies and a national action plan on gender equality, has increased women’s participation in the political decision-making process, has strengthened the framework of legal measures on gender-based violence, has combatted violence against women, and girls and has strengthened measures to combat domestic violence against women and girls. … Timor-Leste supports these recommendations to engage in efforts to further improve the percentage of women within formal work arrangements, to strengthen their capacity to actively participate in supply chains and markets, to further reduce sexual violence and gender-based violence, to further combat gender-based violence and promote gender equality and pay more attention to violence against women and children including violence based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:Marshall IslandsMarshall IslandsRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFIssue:
- Early marriage
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:AcceptedContents:Consider the complete abolition of child marriage by setting the minimum age of marriage for both boys and girls to 18 years of age, without exception.ExplanationTimor-Leste has not yet made a commitment to implement these recommendations now because they are considered to be in contradiction with laws and do not reflect the context lived by Timor-Leste’s society.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:Review DocumentationSession:12th session, October 2011Status:Reference AddressedContents:In 2009, the CEDAW encouraged Timor-Leste to consider ratifying ... CRPD [Para 1] -
State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:UruguayUruguayRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the OP-ICESCR and accept its procedures on investigation and communications between States -
State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:UkraineUkraineRegional groupEEGPolitical groupCISIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the CRPDExplanationTimor-Leste attaches great importance to the rights of the persons with disabilities and reaffirms its commitment to finalize soon the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities and to continue to implement the obligations under the Convention, especially through the National Policy for the Inclusion and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Mental Health Strategy.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 22) Timor-Leste acknowledges that it has not yet ratified the CRPD, however now it is making preparations for the ratification process. The Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFAC) has established a team to make preparations for ratification.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:SudanSudanRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICALIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Implement the National Action Plan on gender based violenceExplanationTimor-Leste supports these recommendations, which considers that they have already been implemented. Timor-Leste has already approved a National Action Plan on Gender-based Violence, which is on the second phase of its implementation.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 35) The Government of Timor-Leste has adopted many measures to combat violence against women and children. The Government of Timor-Leste through the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion has produced a national action plan for gender-based violence 2017-2020, with four important pillars, namely: the prevention of gender-based violence, providing services to victims, access to justice for victims, and coordination, monitoring and assessment of initiatives that have been developed. In 2020 the Government launched a Spotlight Initiative program with the aim of combatting gender-based violence such as violence against women and girls.
Para 77) The Government acknowledges that gender-based violence continues to occur, especially against women, however the Government continues to endeavour to reduce gender-based violence in Timor-Leste.
Para 78) The Government has launched a National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence 2017-2021 as a State commitment to resolve problems to reduce and eradicate gender-based violence that affects women, men and children in the community through coordination and the inclusive participation of all entities.
Para 79) The State has a policy of continuing to promote and protect women and girls so they can enjoy their rights and continues to reduce discrimination in public and private institutions including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, early marriage and forced marriage practices and provides equal opportunities to women to be leaders at the political level.
Para 80) The Government works with non-government organizations and has established safe and protected places for victims and survivors, offering temporary accommodation, including attending to victims and survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, the sexual abuse of children, or trafficking. Now there are safe rooms at the national hospital, referral hospitals and health centres in four municipalities and safe room services are provided by PRADET.
Para 81) Also shelters have been established, as part of a collaboration between the Government and civil society organisations. In 2018, there were safe shelters in all of the 13 municipalities that also guarantee the safety of victims of gender-based violence and shelters also provide training on livelihood skills with the aim of reintegrating victims into the community who have the capacity to make a living.
Para 82) To prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the workplace, the Public Service Commission has created a mechanism for reporting sexual harassment, and the Rosa CHATBOT facilitates reporting of gender-based violence in specific cases relating to sexual harassment that is committed by Public Servants in the workplace or in a public place. The Rosa CHATBOT protects the identity of those who make a complaint.
UN Compilation:
Para 9) The Committee against Torture commended Timor-Leste for its initiatives to amend its policies and procedures in order to afford greater protection of human rights and to apply the Convention against Torture, in particular the adoption of the second National Action Plan on Gender-based Violence (2017–2021);
Para 27) The Special Rapporteur noted that, in terms of access to justice and compliance with human rights standards, there were shortcomings in both the formal justice system and the customary justice system. In the customary justice system, hearings were commonly conducted in public, which was clearly unsuitable for crimes relating to emotionally vulnerable victims of domestic violence and child abuse. Some customary justice practices might entail physical punishments, in contravention of international human rights law.
Para 49) The United Nations country team also noted that gender-based violence was recognized as one of the most pervasive and widespread human rights concerns in TimorLeste, with three in five (59 per cent) ever-partnered women (aged 15–49 years) having experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Of these, 86 per cent had not sought assistance from formal agencies, services or other authorities. Women and girls with disabilities, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons, were at an even higher risk of violence, often perpetrated by family members.
Para 50) The Committee against Torture expressed concern about the reluctance of Timor-Leste to criminalize marital rape and incest as distinct crimes, and expressed regret at the lack of information provided on the number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sentences imposed in cases of gender-based violence against women.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 11) PDHJ highlighted that the formal judicial process did not provide for an accessible, fast and coherent result that ensured victims of domestic violence safety and livelihood. This caused those victims to turn to traditional justice mechanisms and remedies that might not integrate a human rights perspective.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:MadagascarMadagascarRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Accelerate the implementation of a national action plan on gender-based violence as well as action plans in favour of women …ImplementationNational Report:
Para 35) The Government of Timor-Leste has adopted many measures to combat violence against women and children. The Government of Timor-Leste through the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion has produced a national action plan for gender-based violence 2017-2020, with four important pillars, namely: the prevention of gender-based violence, providing services to victims, access to justice for victims, and coordination, monitoring and assessment of initiatives that have been developed. In 2020 the Government launched a Spotlight Initiative program with the aim of combatting gender-based violence such as violence against women and girls.
Para 77) The Government acknowledges that gender-based violence continues to occur, especially against women, however the Government continues to endeavour to reduce gender-based violence in Timor-Leste.
Para 78) The Government has launched a National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence 2017-2021 as a State commitment to resolve problems to reduce and eradicate gender-based violence that affects women, men and children in the community through coordination and the inclusive participation of all entities.
Para 79) The State has a policy of continuing to promote and protect women and girls so they can enjoy their rights and continues to reduce discrimination in public and private institutions including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, early marriage and forced marriage practices and provides equal opportunities to women to be leaders at the political level.
Para 80) The Government works with non-government organizations and has established safe and protected places for victims and survivors, offering temporary accommodation, including attending to victims and survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, the sexual abuse of children, or trafficking. Now there are safe rooms at the national hospital, referral hospitals and health centres in four municipalities and safe room services are provided by PRADET.
Para 81) Also shelters have been established, as part of a collaboration between the Government and civil society organisations. In 2018, there were safe shelters in all of the 13 municipalities that also guarantee the safety of victims of gender-based violence and shelters also provide training on livelihood skills with the aim of reintegrating victims into the community who have the capacity to make a living.
Para 82) To prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the workplace, the Public Service Commission has created a mechanism for reporting sexual harassment, and the Rosa CHATBOT facilitates reporting of gender-based violence in specific cases relating to sexual harassment that is committed by Public Servants in the workplace or in a public place. The Rosa CHATBOT protects the identity of those who make a complaint.
UN Compilation:
Para 9) The Committee against Torture commended Timor-Leste for its initiatives to amend its policies and procedures in order to afford greater protection of human rights and to apply the Convention against Torture, in particular the adoption of the second National Action Plan on Gender-based Violence (2017–2021);
Para 27) The Special Rapporteur noted that, in terms of access to justice and compliance with human rights standards, there were shortcomings in both the formal justice system and the customary justice system. In the customary justice system, hearings were commonly conducted in public, which was clearly unsuitable for crimes relating to emotionally vulnerable victims of domestic violence and child abuse. Some customary justice practices might entail physical punishments, in contravention of international human rights law.
Para 49) The United Nations country team also noted that gender-based violence was recognized as one of the most pervasive and widespread human rights concerns in TimorLeste, with three in five (59 per cent) ever-partnered women (aged 15–49 years) having experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Of these, 86 per cent had not sought assistance from formal agencies, services or other authorities. Women and girls with disabilities, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons, were at an even higher risk of violence, often perpetrated by family members.
Para 50) The Committee against Torture expressed concern about the reluctance of Timor-Leste to criminalize marital rape and incest as distinct crimes, and expressed regret at the lack of information provided on the number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sentences imposed in cases of gender-based violence against women.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 11) PDHJ highlighted that the formal judicial process did not provide for an accessible, fast and coherent result that ensured victims of domestic violence safety and livelihood. This caused those victims to turn to traditional justice mechanisms and remedies that might not integrate a human rights perspective.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:NepalNepalRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupIssue:
- Empowerment of women
- Women's participation
Type:RecommendationSession:26th session, November 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Continue investing in women’s empowerment and promoting their participation in all aspects of the State machineryExplanationTimor-Leste is committed to promote the rights of women, establish gender equality and combat gender-based violence through a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach. Even though the promotion and protection of women’s rights represent a big challenge for the Timorese society, it also remains a priority and the Government is doing a great effort to highlight the contribution of woman to national and political development, particularly investing in the areas of education, economics and political participation.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 70) Legislation in Timor-Leste gives priority to women to participate in political life, therefore there is a special quota for women. The Law on Election to the National Parliament states that the effective and supplementary list of candidates must include at least one woman in every three persons.
Para 71) Law No. 9/2016 on Community Leaders states that the presentation of candidacies for Village Chief and Sub-Village Chief must contain at least one woman and the village council shall comprise one female delegate and one female youth representative, and this law also states that there must be one woman in the electoral team.
Para 72) The participation of women in political life in Timor-Leste continues to change, and in 2017 during the Parliamentary Elections there were 26 female members of the National Parliament, and women were elected as secretary of the chair, and first vice secretary and two deputies.
Para 73) After the General Parliamentary Elections in 2017, in 2018 Timor-Leste held early elections and 22 females were elected as members of the National Parliament and one woman was elected as First Vice-President of the National Parliament, First Secretary to the Chair of the National Parliament and two women as Committee Presidents.
Para 74) Also, in each successive government there has been an increase in women’s participation at the executive level, namely assuming positions as members of government, whereby in the eighth government from 2018-2023 there were seven female members of Government, three Ministers, one Vice Prime Minister, three Vice-Ministers, and one Secretary of State.
Para 75) Women’s participation is not just at the national level but also at the village level, with each successive period showing a significant change in women’s involvement, as 319 women nominated themselves as candidates for Village Chief in 2016 and 21 of them were elected as Village Chief.
Para 76) The State maintained the Dili Declaration to empower women’s economic autonomy, through entrepreneurship, or creation of work for themselves as an essential factor in achieving the sustainable development goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, especially in reducing poverty through the allocation of a gender sensitive State budget each year. The State continues to develop all efforts to reform and uphold women’s economic rights and equal access to economic resources, so they can have access to property and to promote full employment and dignified work. Starting in 2019 the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion (SEI) implemented an economic development program for women to provide support to women’s groups though the public transfers of funds, and 106 women’s groups received publicly transferred funds between 2019-2020. The SEI has continued to promote women’s participation through training and capacity building in important areas such as leadership, management, accountability and finance, and also has created training centres in all municipalities.
UN Compilation:
Para 51) The United Nations country team noted that in the 2017 elections, 49 per cent of voters had been women. In 2020, women had held 38 per cent of National Parliament seats, above the regional average (19 per cent) and the global average (26 per cent). However, women were still underrepresented in other key decision-making positions.
Para 52) It also noted that there had been an increase in women’s participation in the formal labour force but that gender disparities remained. Despite the fact that by 2019, 45.7 per cent of the total labour force had constituted women, there was a gender pay gap of 16 per cent in formal employment.
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State Under Review:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupSource Of Reference:SpainSpainRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOEIIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
Type:RecommendationSession:40th Session, January 2022Status:AcceptedContents:Strengthen the fight against gender violence by providing it with sufficient resources to prosecute its perpetrators, as well as guarantee the rights of victims, making positive law prevail over customary law. A new Plan, provided with due budget support and followed by the corresponding reforms, is the right way forward.
ExplanationTimor-Leste has promoted the rights and welfare of women through policies and a national action plan on gender equality, has increased women’s participation in the political decision-making process, has strengthened the framework of legal measures on gender-based violence, has combatted violence against women, and girls and has strengthened measures to combat domestic violence against women and girls. … Timor-Leste supports these recommendations to engage in efforts to further improve the percentage of women within formal work arrangements, to strengthen their capacity to actively participate in supply chains and markets, to further reduce sexual violence and gender-based violence, to further combat gender-based violence and promote gender equality and pay more attention to violence against women and children including violence based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.