Videos: Vision

Kofi Annan announces results of 1999 Popular Consultation in East Timor

The right to self-determination, firmly embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, is the right of a people to determine their own destiny. In response to the Timorese call for independence, the United Nations conducted the Popular Consultation on 30 August 1999. Its purpose was to let the people decide whether to accept or reject special autonomy within Indonesia. On 3 September, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced that 78.5 per cent of voters rejected the proposed special autonomy, expressing their wish to begin a process of transition towards independence.

Maria Paixão says strong women leaders and national unity keys to building Timor-Leste

The Parliamentary Election Law ensures that a minimum of one in every three candidates forwarded for election by a political party must be a woman. As a result, women's representation in Timor-Leste's government is among the highest in Asia and higher than in many developed countries. Maria Paixão was a member of parliament in Timor-Leste from 2002 to 2012. Her vision of the future is for more Timorese women to rise to the challenge of leadership and for men to support them in this quest. She believes that people from all political parties must work together in the spirit of national unity to build a strong and dynamic Timor-Leste.

Signs of momentum evident in Timor-Leste

Finn Reske-Nielsen's ties to Timor-Leste run deep. The Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General at UNMIT discusses his views on how far the country has come since the Popular Consultation in 1999 and the momentum it has achieved.

Special Representative Ameerah Haq learned much from people of Timor-Leste

UNMIT's Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Timor-Leste Ameerah Haq (4/2010-6/2012) discusses the lessons she learned in Timor-Leste and expresses her admiration for the country's leaders and its people who have accomplished so much.

United Nations takes a supporting role in Timor-Leste

UNMIT was deployed in response to an internal crisis that shook Timor-Leste in April and May 2006. The crisis displaced up to 150,000 people. Many took shelter in camps throughout the capital city Dili and the Baucau district. Atul Khare was UNMIT's first Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Timor-Leste (12/2006-12/2009). He says the role of the United Nations in Timor-Leste at that time was to encourage, motivate and facilitate the national authorities as they rebuilt their nation following the crisis.

'One Country, One People, One Future', Timor-Leste, 2009

To promote the concept of 'One Country, One People, One Future', the National Unity campaign, a joint project of the President's office and UNMIT, produced a series of television, radio and print announcements to encourage the Timorese people to look to the future with a common vision. Wearing traditional 'tais' clothing and speaking in their local language, six Timorese men and women from across the country share the message that no matter where they are from, they are all united as Timorese citizens.