NEW UN CAMPAIGN AIMS TO PROVIDE TIMORESE INMATES WITH HIV/AIDS SERVICES

NEW UN CAMPAIGN AIMS TO PROVIDE TIMORESE INMATES WITH HIV/AIDS SERVICES
New York, May 28 2009 11:00AM
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today launched an AIDS awareness and help campaign for inmates in Becora prison in Dili, Timor-Leste.

The project, to be run by a local non-governmental organization, Sharis Haburas Comunidade, will supply updated information on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases to the inmates, according to a news release issued by the UN mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

It seeks to take a holistic approach to assisting the prisoners, and to help ensure a way for them to move forward when they leave the prison.

Timor-Leste has a relatively low incidence of HIV/AIDS, and a national plan to maintain that record, the mission stated.

"However, prisoners were not given focus in terms of HIV prevention and care," said Dr. Hernando Agudelo, UNFPA Representative in Dili. "To fill the identified gap, UNFPA has funded this project that will provide accurate services to the prisoners in this regard."

In addition to UNFPA and UNMIT, the project is also in collaboration with the faith-based Holy Spirit Sisters, the Ministries of Health and Justice, the Bureau of Prisons and the National AIDS Commission.
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UN HANDS OVER FIRST DISTRICT TO TIMOR-LESTE NATIONAL POLICE UNIT

UN HANDS OVER FIRST DISTRICT TO TIMOR-LESTE NATIONAL POLICE UNIT
New York, May 13 2009 11:00AM
The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) will take over law enforcement duties in a district of the fledgling nation this week for the first time since violent clashes rocked the country in 2006, the Government and the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNMIT) <"http://unmit.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=214&ctl=Details&mid=627&ItemID=3756">announced today.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste Atul Khare, who also heads <"http://unmit.unmissions.org/">UNMIT, have decided that the resumption of responsibilities by the PNTL will start in the District of Lautém tomorrow, 14 May.

UNMIT and the Government reached an agreement on the resumption process which clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the PNTL and UN Police. UN Police will remain in the district to provide advice and monitoring, particularly in the area of human rights protection.

In UNMIT's most recent mandate extension, the Security Council supported the phased transfer of policing responsibilities now performed by UNMIT to the PNTL beginning in 2009, stressing however that the police must first meet all required criteria.

The mission was set up to help stabilize the country and provide intensified police re-training in late April 2006, after fighting – attributed to differences between eastern and western regions – erupted following the firing of 600 striking soldiers, or one-third of the armed forces.

Ensuing violence claimed dozens of lives and drove 155,000 people, 15 per cent of the total population, from their homes.
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TIMOR-LESTE AND UN LAUNCH RADIO SOAP OPERA ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

TIMOR-LESTE AND UN LAUNCH RADIO SOAP OPERA ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
New York, Mar 20 2009 10:00AM

A new radio soap opera featuring the forbidden love story of a young Timorese couple is the latest initiative by the Government and the United Nations to raise awareness about reproductive health issues.

Launched last week by the Ministry of Health and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the series – Domin Familia – spotlights a typical Timorese family, the Amarals, as they deal with various subjects such as family planning and safe motherhood.

"This initiative is one of the activities where the Ministry of Health emphasizes the importance of creating culturally-sensitive and rights-based materials addressed to the people of Timor-Leste," said the Minister of Health Dr. Nelson Martins.

The soap, which airs on Saturday evenings on Radio Timor-Leste (RTL), features a forbidden love story between Lena Amaral, the youngest of her family, and Julio, the son of a cock-fighter. Adding to the drama is the fact that Lena's older brother, Octavio, is against the young couple.

The 24-episode series is written and performed by local theatre group Bibi Bulak.

"It aims to address reproductive health issues in an entertaining way, ensuring that the audience has access to relevant information intended to increase awareness," according to a news release issued by the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).
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