Mapping the pursuit of gender equality

Gender is an important and frequently cited area of discourse and activity in contemporary Timor-Leste. Many organizations work in a range of ways to challenge the disparities that women experience in terms of access to rights, wellbeing, services and power. Gender is also regularly connected with major themes of nation-building and associated development processes, and many attempts are made to ensure that women actively participate in and benefit from nation-building processes. Some activists and advocates have drawn attention to the history of women’s activism and organizing in Timor-Leste under the conditions of colonialism and war, and have endeavoured to articulate a unique role for women in shaping the national history of Timor-Leste. In doing so, there is an attempt to recognize women’s contributions to guerrilla and clandestine fronts, at least in part so as to create opportunities for women to influence contemporary nation-building processes. Hence, the history of East Timor is re-framed to advance the status of women within the new nation. In a day-to-day sense, attempts to realize gender equality have played out in a myriad of different ways and have targeted various facets, realms and social levels of East Timorese life. Efforts range from the individual actions of women and men working to change patterns of daily living through to policy formation, program activities and structural modifications within government, civil society and bilateral and multilateral institutions. This work includes grassroots community organizing, activism and advocacy undertaken by both small and large organizations and changes to donor requirements