Making a political statement: a lady displays the indelible ink on her finger after voting during
the community elections, held in October 2009. Photo: Antoninho Bernardino/UNMIT

Vice President of National Parliament and President of the GMPTL Maria Paixão joined dignitaries including President of the Republic Jose Ramos Horta and President of Parliament Fernando Lasama in celebrating the National Electoral Commission (CNE) third anniversary.

Deputada Paixão addressed the gathering at Delta Nova on January 15th on the topic of securing women’s participation in the future municipal elections.  Although female participation in the 2009 suco elections increased from 2004, overall participation was still low.  Deputada Paixão highlighted lack of training for candidates and limited civic education as key reasons why female participation was so low.  She also highlighted the short time between the guarantee of the packet law, which guaranteed women’s inclusion on electoral tickets, and the elections as key contributing factor.

Deputada Paixão called on all political parties to respect the laws that secure women’s participation in elections.  She also implored organizations, from civil society to government and international development agencies to provide civic education and advocacy throughout the country.  On a family level, she also called on husbands to share domestic burdens to give their wives the necessary time to participate in public life.

Women’s participation was a theme that resounded through meeting.  President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta noted that Timor-Leste’s patriarchal culture made it difficult to enter politics, and Commissioner of CNE Padre Martinho called on all women to secure their rights within their political parties.

 A combination of strong women and strong leadership will hopefully pave the way for fuller participation of women in future elections.

The CNE is the key counterpart for the UNDP Support to the Timorese Electoral Cycle Project.  UNDP  actively supported the establishment of this electoral body through material, logistic, infrastructure support, and continues  to provide technical advisory in areas such as: management, administration, IT, logistics, legal, civic education etc.  During its first three years of existence the CNE has monitored and supervised three elections:  2007 Parliamentarian, Presidential (two rounds) and 2009 Community (Suco) Elections.

Voting day, 9 October 2009:CNE is the key counterpart for the UNDP Support
to the Timorese Electoral Cycle Project . Photo: Antoninho Bernardino/UNMIT

The third anniversary celebrations included presentations on the launch of the Electoral Atlas (three volumes) containing the data for all the electoral processes 1999-2009; and International Seminar on Electoral Studies with the participation of national and international speakers. The President of the Republic, the Speaker of the National Parliament; the Chairman of CNE; Director of STAE; MPs;  the Dean of the National University and all the CNE Commissioners participated. The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG) and UNDP Resident Representative Finn Reske-Nielsen was also present.