Upholding Rights

EAST TIMOR: Olivia Wellesley-Cole is an AusAID-funded protection officer with Austcare. She's currently in Dili seconded to UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Here is her report.

Political and social instability in East Timor in April 2006 led to street violence, the burning of houses and the displacement of tens of thousands of people in the nation's capital, Dili. Schools, churches, government offices became places or refuge.

Over a year later, there is still massive displacement in Dili. Over 30,000 people continue to live as best as they can in internally displaced people's camps. Sporadic violence between gangs armed with darts and home-made missiles erupts on the streets almost daily.

UNHCR is working with the Government of East Timor to ensure that the rights of internally displaced people are respected. As it's important everyone knows what those rights are, my colleague Manuel Carceres da Costa and I have been training United Nations Police (UN Pol) on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

UN Pol was set up as part of the United Nations Mission in East Timor in mid-2006, and has representatives from over 50 United Nations member states. It operates as Dili's local police force so it's pleasing that more East Timorese police are joining it - although the officers that Manuel and I help to instruct are mainly from Australia, Brazil, Nepal and Namibia.

The guiding principles are specifically concerned with the plight of internally displaced people. In our training sessions we try hard not to lecture but to apply the principles to current circumstances - for example, the importance of the right to vote in the presidential election. Our training sessions form part of an overall human rights message. Other sections include child protection and dealing with sexual and gender-based violence.

Above left: Olivia Wellesley-Cole 'We must ensure the rights of internally displaced people are respected.'

Note: This and other stories about Australia's aid program can be found in AusAID's Focus Magazine.

2007