SRSG: “TIMORIZATION IMPRESSIVE”

SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello today said that the “timorization” of the public administration – the recruitment, selection and placement of East Timorese as civil servants during the transition to independence – displayed “impressive numbers.” Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the first 17 East Timorese Senior Civil Servants of the Division of Health of the Transitional Administration, SRSG de Mello said that 86 per cent of the positions approved by the National Council in the budget for this fiscal year have been filled. “More than 9,000 East Timorese civil servants of a total of 10,554 staff that we were authorized to recruit are already recruited,” he said. Over half of the allocated managerial posts have been filled. Over 20 per cent of the filled positions are women. Today’s ceremony was attended by Cabinet Member for Social Affairs Fr. Filomeno Jacob and Senior Health Advisor Jim Tullock, among others. Rui Maria de Araújo was sworn-in as head of the Division of Health Services of the East Timor Transitional Administration and Rui Paulo de Jesus as Deputy Head.

WOMEN POTENTIAL ELECTION CANDIDATES END TRAINING

A month-long workshop in political participation for potential East Timorese women candidates to the 30 August Constituent Assembly elections ended today with a ceremony in Dili. More than 150 East Timorese women from organizations all over the country attended the training, organized by UNTAET’s Division of Gender Affairs in conjunction with the United Nations Fund for Women, UNIFEM. A caucus composed of a dozen women was set-up by the participants in order to discuss profoundly women’s participation in politics. The Gender Affairs Division will conduct additional training for those who decide to run in the upcoming elections.