August 30th will be 20 years after a UN-backed popular consultation, in which the East Timorese chose self-determination. In this process, which took place in May 2002, the international community also had a strong involvement alongside solidarity networks created across the globe.
The country with the support of the United Nations and the international community intends to invest in areas that include education, vocational development training, and job opportunities. About 70% of the Timorese population are people under 25 years.
One of the largest demonstrations of support for East Timor’s autonomy came from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). Portugal, Brazil and Lusophone African countries were part of several international missions that are still developing initiatives such as the implementation and teaching of the Portuguese language in the Southeast Asian country.
“We have a lot of people who don’t have jobs in the formal economy. So it is a very high priority. The other priority is to improve the quality of services in education, which is very low. The government’s priority is to improve this area as well as health services etc. ”, said United Nations Resident Coordinator in East Timor, Roy Trivedy.
This week, a group of United Nations experts visited the country to prepare the development cooperation framework for the period 2020 to 2024.
Brazilian Sérgio Vieira de Mello coordinated the national reconstruction work following the conflict between East Timor and Indonesia. He also led the process that allowed the formation of the government and the production system that ensured the construction of a “democratic and economically inclusive future” in the country.
Sérgio Vieira de Mello headed the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (Untated), which was established in October 1999 with the mandate to organize the handing over of power to the Timorese people.
+ Sérgio Vieira de Mello has worked at the United Nations for 34 years and has been a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights since 2002. He died in Baghdad, along with 21 others, from a bomb attack on local UN headquarters.