Reflections from Timor-Leste
We’ve asked some CLA interns to do a guest post about their summer experiences. The post below is from Stephanie Cox, a Windsor Law student who spent the summer on a CLA internship with the UNDP in Timor-Leste.You can read about the experiences of Jaimie Tax, a McGill law student who spent the summer on a CLA internship with The Asia Foundation in Sri Lanka here and JoAnne Barnum’s reflections on her internship with the Legal Services Board in Rankin Inlet here.Timor-Leste is one of the world’s newest states having gained independence in 2002. Comprising the eastern half of the island of Timor (West Timor, Indonesia is the country’s neighbour), it is located about an hour’s flight from Darwin, Australia with the Timor Sea separating the two. Unfortunately Timor-Leste’s history has been defined by conflict, struggle for independence and violence. After nearly 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule, Timor-Leste declared independence in 1975 only to be invaded and occupied by Indonesia later that year. From 1975-1999 Indonesia’s military occupation was marked by violence, oppression and brutality. In 1999, following a United Nation sponsored referendum where the Timorese people bravely voted for independence (an act of self-determination), Indonesia relinquished control of Timor-Leste. The administration of Timor-Leste was assumed by the United Nations Transitional Administration of East Timor (UNTAET) until 2002 when Timor-Leste achieved formal independence.My internship was with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Justice System’s Program where I supported their Access to Justice programme. The common themes with the projects I contributed to were access to justice, substantive equality and the creative ways to achieve the difficult task of contributing to the formation of a legal system that is culturally appropriate, relevant and reflective of Timorese world view while upholding international human rights standards. For example, I completed an advocacy paper on the need for social context education programming to (hopefully) be adopted by the legal training center so justice officials take into consideration the various contexts a person standing before them comes, the overarching social conditions, and judge’s own life experiences and beliefs – and how all of these impact upon substantive equality and justice in a concrete sense.
Women selling their vegetables in a local market
Unlike in Canada, access to justice issues in Timor-Leste always boiled down to the most basic access issues that went beyond realm of law. For instance, outside of the capital city Dili there is a lack of roads, electricity and institutions - so even just physically accessing an institution is a struggle, whether by car or foot. Language and literacy are serious issues with at least 14 different languages spoken within the country while state laws are only written in Portuguese or Tetum.
Rice fields embraced by mountains and blue sky
Throughout my experience I had moments of questioning the relevancy of some programs and ethics in development. At times I thought that legal rights seem like such abstract thoughts, beyond the needs of a population suffering from malnourishment, lack of clean water and sanitation, and infrastructure in general, but of course this was narrow thinking. At a meeting with a Timorese director of a women’s shelter service it became clear to me just how important a role law can play in the lives of Timorese. The woman I met with was adamant about how important the public nature of the Law Against Domestic Violence was in pursuit of gender equality in this highly patriarchal society that tends to believe that beating women is a normal part of family relations because it is a tool of educating a woman to her role. Hearing this from someone who deals day to day with victims reinvigorated my passion how instrumental law can be in helping people. However it is clear that as benevolent as laws can be, achieving the height of their objectives is also dependent upon other institutions to support them, such as social services.Aside from the challenging yet rewarding work with the United Nations, the cross cultural experience was just as exciting and challenging at times. Timor-Leste is a heaven for out-doors adventure seekers. While in Timor-Leste I had the opportunity to hike mountains in the early morning to watch a glorious sunrise, completing the trek with a simple breakfast on the beach. I was able to snorkel in crystal waters, and sleep in a bamboo, stick and leaf thatched hut on a beach and then travel by local fishing motorboat to a nearby untouched sacred island (Jaco Island) ringed with white sand, surrounded by clear turquoise waters.
Soccer on the beach as the sun sets
In closing, my experience in Timor-Leste was one of challenge and a great sense of reward. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to a positive and very needed project and to have sharpened my skill sets along the way. I am also grateful to have been exposed to the raw realities of a post-conflict society and the challenges of development that accompany. Timor-Leste will forever hold a special place in my heart and I hope to return one day.
Working diligently in the UNDP Program Office