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East Timor

EAST TIMOR's PERSONS with DISABILITIES

September 2002

Klibur Aleizadus, TIMOR LORO SA'E (KATILOSA)

Timor Loro Sa'e: The Sun Rises in East Timor...

As a New Nation...

For over 400 years, East Timor was under the Portuguese until 1975 when the Indonesians invaded the island and took over. In 1999, the Timorese staged the greatest upheaval ever and with the help of a few nations' forces, they united against the Indonesian militia that ruled them for almost 25 years. In August 1999, despite the prevalent violence and intimidation posed by the militia, 98% of the voting population of Timorese cast their ballots in an election witnessed by the world. East Timor gained its independence last May 20, 2002 and is now considered as the newest and youngest nation of the world.

The Sun Rises in East Timor... that's Timor Loro Sa'e. Now, East Timor enjoys its independence from any nation's rule but heavily faces the challenges of economic independence. With a population of a little over 780,000 persons, it may seem easy to manage it but as an infant, it's frail and still groping its way to standing on its own. The vast majority of the people now suffer from poverty and displacement, dilapidated buildings and infrastructures need to be reconstructed or replaced, and an economy to be built and boosted, these are but macro-strategic concerns that must be responded to immediately.

The United Nations (UN) has guided East Timor through different socio-political stages since its dark moments. Pursuant to Resolution 1272 (1999) of the UN Security Council, the United Nations Transition Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was created in Oct. 25, 1999 and existed until January 2001. UNTAET was created to ensure stability and establishment of a transition government in East Timor. With the phase out of the UNTAET, came UN Mission of Support to East Timor (UNMISET), which is the current team guiding the rebuilding and development of the country. For defense and security, UNMISET has continued to maintain its peacekeeping forces (PKF) and the UN Civil Police (UNCivPol).

In addition, almost all bodies of the UN are represented in the country namely, among others: UNDP, UNICEF, ILO, UNIFEM, UNCHR, AND WHO. Other international development agencies present in the country are: World Bank, ADB, IMF, WFP, IFRC, JICA, AusAID, British Council, CIDA, USAID, OXFAM, the group of Save the Children, CARITAS, Handicapped International, IRC, Christian Children's Fund,

Basic Statistics...

East Timor is made up of 13 districts, namely: Dili, Manatuto, Aileu, Manufahi, Ermera, Bobonaru, Kova-Lima, Liquica, Ainaro, Baucau, Viqueque, Lautem, and Ambino (Oecusse). Dili is the hub of socio-economic and political activities; i.e., commerce and trade, education and the seat of government.

Key indicators have the following values/data as of 2002:

Life expectancy

55-58 years

Infant mortality rate

85/1000 live births

Major causes of death

tuberculosis and malaria

Common illness

lower respiratory track infection

Adult literacy rate

51%

Presence of primary of schools

788 before disturbance and 734 re-opened after violence 163,000 pupils returned after the disturbance; each school operating 3 hours/day only; student to teacher ratio is 24:1

Average household monthly income

US$ 20 with 75% of 400,000 workforce in agriculture

National poverty line

75% as of November 2001; 90% of population have cash income of only US$ 1/day

Average household size

7

Food insecurity

80% as of January 2002

Shelter occupancy

30% of population have no shelter (yr 2000)

Energy (electrification)

630,000 out of 780,000 live without electricity in their homes; only 10% of all villages in East Timor have power

Presence of doctors

135 out of 160 registered doctors have left the country

The priority areas now as reported by a World Bank study early 2002, are as follows:

1. basic education for all

2. preventive health care and family planning

3. improvement of agricultural production

4. capacity-building of all sectors especially government

5. reconstruction particularly infrastructure

Poverty is prevalent. Joblessness or unemployment of many gives the biggest challenge now in the country. Within this context, it can be inferred that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are all the more impoverished, thus, almost helpless.

Government Structure

An elected independent party president, Pres. Xanana Gusmao, rules the Democratic Republic of East Timor. Prime Minister Alkatiri heads the parliament. The following are the key ministries:

1. Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports

2. Ministry of Health

3. Ministry of Planning and Finance

4. Ministry of Water and Public Works

5. Ministry of Communications and Transport

6. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

7. Ministry of Internal Administration

8. Office of Labor and Solidarity

9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The unit for PWD concerns is under the Division for Social Services of the Office of Labour and Solidarity.

United Nations Mission of Support for East Timor (UNMISET)

The UNMISET has almost all the UN agencies and peacekeeping forces and civil police support of at least 10 countries. Aside from UN agencies, the embassies of these countries and international development and funding agencies are present in East Timor, particularly, located in Dili, the capital city of the country. The UN Hospital was recently turned over to the government. This is in addition to the country's National Hospital, which provides free services to its citizens.

People With Disabilities in East Timor: A Situationer

The unit for people with disabilities in East Timor under the Office of Labour and solidarity has conducted a national workshop last July 16-17, 2002 in Dili, East Timor. This was attended by at least 100 PWDs and other related agencies, both government and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) working with PWDs.

In that workshop, the following major areas of concerns were discussed:

1. national policies, rights and public awareness on PWDs

2. health care for PWDs: community-based rehabilitation

3. training and leadership development of PWDs

4. education for PWDs

5. gender equality in PWD development

Areas of Concerns

The two-day workshop yielded expected results in social, economic, and political concerns. Poverty is the biggest challenge faced by the sector. The effects of the recent violence or armed conflict are still very fresh. The government is only starting to recover, build and construct a nation that is only 5 month old in independence from external rule.

The recent conflict displaced many families, caused death and physical deformities, economic dislocation, unrest and orphaned children. Majority of its people are just starting to recover from the ravage of war. Systems are just being established yet including information systems to include surveys about persons with disabilities and truly disabled people in East Timor. In the workshop, the closest estimate of the population of PWDs was still at 35,000. Actual figures could be more, as there has been no survey yet conducted after the Independence Day in May 2002. Roughly, the figures may be around 10-15% of the present population of 787,000 persons.

The New Constitution spells out EQUAL RIGHTS of ALL CITIZENS and 2 specific Sections 16 and 21 for PWDs, thus:

Section 16:

No one should be discriminated on the grounds of physical and mental conditions...

Section 21:

A disabled citizen shall enjoy same rights as other normal citizens... and the State shall promote and protect the rights of disabled persons...

The major causes of physical disabilities in the country are, among others, malnutrition, polio, accidents, leprosy and poor health. Reportedly, accidents from vehicular collisions are the major causes of physical disabilities among the youth and adults.

In the country, majority suffers from inadequate to lack of opportunities for basic education, health and other social welfare services, livelihood and employment. If ordinary citizens without disabilities are having a hard time looking for opportunities, it is more serious in the case of PWDs. Facilities and resources are very inadequate to meet all the needs of the poor that comprise more than 75% of the population.

Understandably, the government is prioritizing reconstruction of facilities and strengthening its organization, not much attention yet has been given to the PWD sector.

Access facilities

Buildings and other infrastructures in the country, in general, are not ready yet for PWDs. There are no access facilities such as ramps in almost all of the structures. It is very timely though that at this point in time while reconstruction and repairs of building are planned, these access point/facilities should already be advocated for inclusion.

Social and Health Care Services

The number of persons with disabilities is increasing, as there are more and more people who meet accidents each day because of vehicular collisions. There is no conscious effort yet in the country on educating and really training drivers as well as traffic facilities are not yet in place.

Being a new nation, resources even manpower are inadequate to meet the needs of the majority, PWDs included. There are no known special facilities yet for PWDs except those provided by NGOs like KATILOSA.

There are neither scholarship opportunities nor special educational accommodation for PWDs. Many children and youth aren't back to school yet after the conflict. Poverty is still the main reason and lack of teachers in almost all schools is a big problem. Salaries of teachers aren't enough to lure them to teach.

Most PWDs stay home idle and highly dependent on families and relatives. Education has been hampered, as families are still busy making a living. Most are still on a hand-to-mouth existence.

Expectedly, too, many more children will be born malnourished, as mothers aren't well aware of the effects of malnutrition. They couldn't be blamed though since, lack of economic development opportunities envelope the nation.

Government and Nongovernment Organizations for PWDs

So far, there are only 3 major NGOs in the country officially known to have focused on PWDs, namely: KATILOSA, Ahisaun Foundation and Fuena Belan. Handicap International is present in the country. Other international networks with satellite offices in East Timor include Don Bosco

The government has a PWD unit under the Division of Social Services supervised by the Office of the Secretary of State for labor and Solidarity. Under the same Office, a Disability Working Group has been created and meets regularly. However, not much has been done yet in terms of policies, plan, programs and projects. The planned national survey of PWDs hasn't taken off the ground yet.

KATILOSA is known to be the most active NGO ion the country for PWDs. It is sending athletes to the 8th World Paralympics and to other international gatherings. It is working closely now with the World Health Organization for its community-based rehabilitation project assisted by the Australian Mission. KATILOSA, too, has been given the opportunity to have an old building of the defunct department of labor to be repaired by the peacekeeping force. Soon, this building wills serve as KATILOSA's office and a vocational and technical training venue for PWDs. It shall also serve as the gathering place of PWDs' major activities. A Memorandum of Agreement between the secretary of State for labor and Solidarity and KATILOSA for this purpose.

Measures suggested by PWDs

The recommendations from the national workshop as well as from the results of the mini survey done by KLIBUR ALEIZADUS TIMOR LORO SA'E (KATILOSA) in the sub-district of Becora, Dili, are as follows:

Social Welfare and Health Care

1. nutrition and food supplementation especially for children with disabilities

2. shelter provision

3. community-based rehabilitation

4. medical services

5. primary health care (e.g. maternal and child care, water and sanitation)

Education

6. scholarship opportunities

7. capacity building

8. formal schooling

9. construction of a center for PWD training

10. civic education

Economic Development

11. appropriate vocational and technical skills training for employment and livelihood

12. seed capital or funding for income-generating projects

13. other support mechanisms like marketing of PWD products

Communication and Transportation

14. accessibility facilities such as ramps in buildings, among others

15. publication or journal papers or medium of expression for PWDs

Political Participation and Legal Services

16. active involvement and participation in decision-making of the government and NGOs in matters affecting them

17. provision of legal and para-legal assistance to PWDs

18. strengthening the organizations of PWDs and coming up with a national council or association of PWDs in the country

The study conducted recently by the government through the Office of the Secretary of State for Labor and Solidarity in cooperation with the International Labor Organization pointed to the following measures:

1. creation of a National Council for Persons with Disabilities and its own Secretariat to act as a recommendatory body and arm of the government in all matters affecting PWDs

2. formulation and passage of laws and policies protecting and promoting the rights of PWDs

3. provision of funding and other resources to operationalize the proposed National Council which would have multisectoral membership (i.e., NGOs, PWD representatives, government and the business as well as international or national development agencies concerned with PWDs)