TRAINING FOR WOMEN POLITICAL CANDIDATES

UNTAET’s Gender Affairs Unit in conjunction with the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM) will conduct a special training next month for 100 potential East Timorese women candidates to the Constituent Assembly. This follows SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello’s announcement of measures to encourage women participation in the 30 August elections, in connection with the signing of the regulation on elections and registration of political parties on 16 March. The training will be on political participation, decision making and basic knowledge on how to become a candidate, among other things.

Yesterday, 4 April the Gender Unit informed all political parties, NGOs and the 13 District Administrations of the training. Application forms have been distributed and organizations have been asked to help in identifying women who may be interested in either running as independent or political party candidates. Names should be forwarded by 16 April. The final list of 100 women candidates for the training will be completed by late April. In selecting the participants, fair representation of organizations, districts and individual candidates will be taken into account. UNIFEM is funding the training and will send five staff to assist in the training.

PORTUGAL SIGNS AID AGREEMENTS

Acting SRSG Jean-Christian Cady and the Government of Portugal signed two Memoranda of Understanding today, in the sectors of agriculture and water rehabilitation. Five experts from the Ministry of Agriculture will oversee the establishment a technological center in Ermera for coffee production and a horticulture and forestry center in Aileu. The project is valued at US $1.41 million. The Portuguese Government also pledged US$900,000 to continue its program of the rehabilitation of the water system in Baucau and Aileu districts, which was initiated last year. This Memorandum was signed between Portugal, UNTAET and UNDP.