Position paper for Timor-Leste
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures |
| Paper text: | |
| The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste strongly supports the idea of disarmament measures as the way to achieve lasting peace and security in the Southeast Asian region. At the same time, The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste recognizes the need for order- keeping structures within the country, which should definitely not be perceived as an increase in militarization by The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste's partners, but as a way how to maintain peace and order in the young country, recovering from security threats and disorder caused after its creation, trying to maintain its own internal peace after the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers in 2012. In addition, law enforcement mechanisms are necessary for the survival of The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste's democracy, future growth, prosperity and ability to provide Timor-Leste's citizens with access to all human rights. The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is also deeply concerned about the instability of the Middle East and would be eager to engage in providing security and access to the ability to exercise all human rights by the citizens through joint peacekeeping missions in case of need, as The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste deeply recognizes the struggle of maintaining order in fragile states. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction |
| Paper text: | |
| The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has demonstrated its historic commitment to the various treaties prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction. The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste remains firmly committed to the Chemical Weapons Convention and is taking all measures to ensure that its obligations remain unquestioned. In addition, The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is taking proactive measures to demonstrate the understanding of the level of destruction that chemical weapons possess by committing to submitting declaration regardless of chemical weapons as well as granting free assessment of inspections in case of need. In addition, 100% of chemical weapons stockpiles have been verifiably destroyed, which again underscores The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste's passionate commitment to the prohibition of chemical weapons possession. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Agriculture development, food security and nutrition |
| Paper text: | |
| Timor-Leste's agricultural sector is significantly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with erratic weather patterns leading to increased droughts and flooding. These environmental challenges jeopardize crop yields and threaten the livelihoods of farmers and food security for our communities. Currently, approximately 40% of children under five suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition, which poses serious risks to public health and economic growth. To address these pressing issues, Timor-Leste advocates for a multi-faceted approach that focuses on sustainable agricultural practices, strengthening local food systems, and implementing comprehensive national nutrition programs. The delegation of Timor-Leste calls for increased investment in sustainable agricultural practices that prioritize climate- resilient crops and innovative farming techniques. By adopting agroecological methods, we can enhance productivity while preserving our natural resources and reducing environmental degradation. This will not only ensure food security but also bolster our agricultural sector against the impacts of climate change. Our delegation also calls for the establishment of comprehensive national nutrition programs aimed at educating communities about healthy diets and improving access to nutritious food. This initiative will not only combat malnutrition but also contribute to overall public health and economic development. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Development cooperation with middle-income countries |
| Paper text: | |
| As Timor-Leste strives to achieve middle-income status, the delegation recognizes the critical role of development cooperation with middle-income countries. These partnerships can facilitate knowledge sharing and provide essential support in various sectors, including agriculture, education, and healthcare. Middle-income countries possess valuable insights and experiences that can help us navigate our developmental challenges. To this end, we advocate for the formation of strategic partnerships focused on enhancing trade, investment, and technology transfer. The delegation of Timor-Leste emphasizes the importance of capacity- building initiatives aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of our workforce. By investing in education and training programs, we can equip our citizens with the tools necessary to thrive in a competitive global market. This capacity building is crucial for empowering our youth and ensuring they can contribute effectively to the economy. Furthermore, the delegation encourages the promotion of South-South cooperation mechanisms, which allow developing nations to share resources, best practices, and expertise in a mutually beneficial manner. This approach fosters a more equitable development landscape and strengthens regional solidarity. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Rights of indigenous peoples |
| Paper text: | |
| As the representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, we respect the rights of
Indigenous peoples around the world. We believe that Indigenous people deserve the right to
life and basic necessities. In 2007, Timor-Leste endorsed the United Nations Rights of
Indigenous Peoples. Being a very diverse country, with recognizing Tetum and Portuguese as
official languages along with English and Indonesian as working languages, and over thirty
Indigenous languages, it can be difficult to fully address situations revolving around Indigenous
groups. Due to Timor-Leste's history of relations with other countries, independence has led to
beliefs of our land as sacred. To promote the land, Timor-Leste has taken many steps to
incorporate Indigenous practices and knowledge into our policies to protect various rights of
our indigenous people. However, due to severe climate change, our land is not in the same
quality it once was. Climate-driven disasters are getting worse each year; droughts have been
causing food insecurity, which leads to malnutrition of many people, especially Indigenous
peoples.
Many of the indigenous peoples in Timor-Leste live in rural areas. Due to transportation and the infrastructure in Timor-Leste, it can be difficult to send resources from the urban areas to the rural areas. With the lack of resources and being in a rural area, Indigenous women are extremely vulnerable in situations of violence. Many Indigenous women and children do not have access to first responders, medical care, safe houses, and judiciary and psychological support. While Timor-Leste has been working thoroughly to combat these concerns, it can be difficult to set up a solid infrastructure because of funding and climate change. Timor-Leste calls to continue to work towards fully addressing situations revolving around Indigenous groups, and protecting Indigenous peoples rights. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Literacy for life |
| Paper text: | |
| As the representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, we support higher
education worldwide. As a young nation-state, we are continuously striving for better
education in Timor-Leste and in other countries around the world. We believe that everyone
has the right to education and the freedom to choose. Being a recognized observer of
ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who respect and promote fundamental
freedoms and human rights, our goal is to encourage the growth of education. Timor-Leste's
education has grown tremendously well with more young people and children attending
school, and obtaining a better, and successful, education. However there is still much
improvement that needs to be addressed and taken into account. With being a very diverse
country, recognizing Tetum and Portuguese as official languages along with English and
Indonesian as working languages, and over thirty indigenous languages, it can be difficult to
have educational courses with language differences. There are language barriers that can
make the educational process and environment difficult for communication between the
teachers and students.
With the support of organizations, the people of Timor-Leste are able to continue to strengthen their education system. Partnering and working with UNICEF, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, has been crucial for the restructuring of Timor- Leste. UNICEF has supported our government, helping to create a sustainable community of pre-schools, and helping the children in rural areas have access to education. KOICA, The Korea International Cooperation Agency, has also been a successful partner with the government of Timor-Leste to expand the education system. KOICA has sent funding, in order for us to publish textbooks and guides for teachers in secondary schools. Timor-Leste's goal is to improve education, and with the financial support of international relations, we are able to continue to grow. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment |
| Paper text: | |
| Timor-Leste firmly believes that the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable
environment is intrinsic to the dignity and well-being of every individual. Our country, having
been subjected to four centuries of colonization and internal strife, is embarking on a long
haul to recovery. Timor-Leste is strongly aware of how environmental degradation impacts
public health, food security, and overall socio-economic development.
We applaud every positive array of developments toward integrating environmental protection into all areas of decision-making, including those that uphold a human rights- based approach to sustainable development. Specifically, Timor-Leste has undertaken directives geared toward renewable energy, reforestation, and sustainable management of natural resources. We call upon the international community to scale up its support in fostering capacity building at the state and civil society levels, to optimize resource efficiency and the protection of the environment into sustainable practices. We have embraced the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and agree that protecting and preserving our environment is essential to safeguarding the human rights of all people, and future generations. It is here that we stress the particular significance of Goal 13, Climate Action, including the objective of encouraging the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Goal 15, Life on Land, as contributing to the making of an improved and sustainable future for all. Our educational program will give rise to the assertion of popular demand for political, economic, and social realization of international human rights standards with regard to securing sustainable development, assuring further corporate accountability for an anti- ephemeral context and policy engagement. Building up will also enhance free-to-access information cooperation through joint, concerted efforts with local and international NGOs, together with relevant international and regional organizations, in order to contribute to participation in public discourse. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel |
| Paper text: | |
| Timor-Leste thoughtfully supports the safety and security of humanitarian and United
Nations personnel because the consequences of humanitarian assistance depend on these
individuals working in a security environment, free from violence and threats.
Due to the ongoing challenges faced by humanitarian organizations, including attacks against personnel in conflict zones, Timor-Leste advocates for enhanced protection for these indispensable workers. We support the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2286, which condemns attacks against medical personnel and humanitarian workers, and we call for stronger accountability measures for acts of violence against them. Timor-Leste believes in the great importance of working with local communities to ensure greater safety for humanitarian personnel. Community dialogue and trust-building with local leaders create an environment conducive to humanitarian efforts. Also, humanitarian personnel working in unstable locations should be provided with sufficient training and risk assessment methods. Adequate provisions for resources and support systems, including psychological counseling and training in conflict sensitivity, can greatly enhance their safety and their practice. Member states must be urged to consider the protection of humanitarian workers their first priority, salient in human rights issues as well as an imperative towards the success of international humanitarian efforts. As Timor-Leste, we will promote the human rights of a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment in the safety and security of those who work tirelessly to give humanitarian aid. The two topics discussed are intertwined, as a healthy environment contributes to stability and security, providing the necessary atmosphere for humanitarian assistance to exist. We hope to work with fellow nations to take these matters further. | |
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