Momentum: Timor-Leste forges a vibrant future
Videos: Confidence
Youth groups express their creativity through capoeira
Capoeira is a martial art that combines elements of dance and music. It's known for its fast and complex moves. Created by descendants of African slaves in 16th-century Brazil, it became a symbol of resistance to oppression. Today, youth groups like the Movimento de Adolescentes e Crianças practice capoeira to improve their physical and mental health, express their creativity and increase their confidence. The group has performed in Indonesia, Singapore and Brazil and won first place at an international Capoeira competition in 2009. They perform on a beach in the capital city Dili.
Timor-Leste influences global policy through the g7+
Timor-Leste moves from conflict to development
In 1999, a crisis was unfolding in East Timor. More than 80 per cent of the country's infrastructure was destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless and more than 1,200 were killed. From these desolate conditions the Timorese built the new nation of Timor-Leste. Today, the country is a place of unity, democracy, peace, celebration, sport and optimism. Martin Dransfield, Chief of the Military Liaison Group at UNMIT, describes the remarkable changes that took place in the country in just over a decade.
Timorese police and military officers now serve in UN peacekeeping missions
Five United Nations missions have served in Timor-Leste since 1999, helping the country make the transition from conflict to peace. Today, Timor-Leste has progressed from receiving peacekeeping assistance to contributing personnel to UN operations in troubled parts of the world. José Antonio da Costa, a lieutenant in the Timor-Leste National Defence Force, shares his pride in representing the United Nations and Timor-Leste in peacekeeping missions in Israel and Lebanon.
Civic education important to voters in Timor-Leste
The Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration and the National Electoral Commission organized and supervised the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections with far less support from the United Nations than in previous elections. Faustino Cardoso Gomes, President of the National Electoral Commission, discusses civic education and elections today in Timor-Leste.
Voter turnout high in Timor-Leste
Timorese participation in elections is among the highest in the world despite the barriers posed by the geographic isolation of many communities. Tomás do Rosario Cabral, former Director of the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration, discusses the importance of voting in Timor-Leste.
Timor-Leste increasingly able to plan and manage elections
In 2007, the United Nations conducted a comprehensive election support project in partnership with Timor-Leste's national electoral bodies, the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration and the National Electoral Commission. The UN provided material and advisory support and helped increase skills within the electoral bodies and within the political parties. Voter-registration outreach programmes formed part of the project which delivered electoral information and provided registration facilities to under-represented groups. Andrés del Castillo of the United Nations Electoral Support Team explains the country's progress in administering its elections.
Training prepares Timorese staff for future employment
In March 2010, UNMIT launched an innovative training programme to help the Mission's 1,000 Timorese staff find employment, take advantage of business opportunities and continue to contribute to the country's development after the Mission closed. Designed to help staff build on their existing skills and explore new careers, the National Staff Capacity Building Programme offered a wide variety of courses including office administration, tourism, event management, forklift driving, occupational health and safety and English language immersion. One of the most popular courses was a four-day programme on starting a small business.
Timorese officers join UN missions in countries affected by conflict
Timor-Leste has transitioned from receiving peacekeeping assistance to contributing to United Nations operations in other parts of the world. Assistant Superintendent Pascoal Fereira Guterres of the National Police of Timor-Leste became a UN Police officer for the first time in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. He believes that carefully chosen words can help to create peace.