Gender roles play a central role in East Timor’s security sector reform (SSR) and have the potential to increase or undermine security sector professionalism. This paper, published by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, reviews recent security sector developments in East Timor and assesses its SSR from a gender perspective. Comprehensive gender-sensitive SSR processes, including increased recruitment of and equal opportunities for women in security forces, are necessary to provide security for the entire population.
From 1999-2006, internationally-supported SSR in newly independent East Timor demobilised rebel forces and forged comprehensive army and police reforms. In 2006, bloody conflict between army and police forces ended this reform period and underscored long-standing gender-related grievances. Despite international gender mainstreaming programmes, both men and women felt they were under-recognised and -rewarded for their role in the country’s struggle for independence.
Gender roles in East Timor are marked by patriarchy. There is a pervasive sense of maternalism. Men are caught between two expectations: to continue to play the role of provider while embracing modernity.
A review of this reform-relapse period in East Timor highlights the impact of gender on East Timor’s continued quest for internal security:
- On-going security challenges are linked to the readiness of men to use violence to address grievances and sexual violence and exploitation.
- Before 2006, demobilisation of the resistance did not adequately recognise women involved in the struggle. The armed forces were still dominated by male clientelistic patronage networks.
- Due to gender training and a higher percentage of female officers, the pre-2006 national police force had greater exposure to gender issues than the armed forces. However, there have been serious allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against the police; many officers do not consider cases of domestic violence seriously.
- After the resurgence of violence in 2008, responsibility for internal security was transferred to an international stabilisation force. When the security function returned to the Timorese, armed forces-police tensions gradually diminished and their self-confidence seemed to increase.
- By 2009, women constituted 10 per cent of the armed forces and 18 per cent of the police. However, barriers to women’s full participation in security forces persist.
The following measures would address Timorese security sector gender-related issues:
- Involve civil society, including women’s organisations, in debate on human security and the roles of security institutions.
- Engage in civic education on security sector roles and citizens’ rights vis-à-vis security institutions.
- Increase recruitment of women to security forces; ensure gender equality in employment and advancement.
- Draft and implement policies prohibiting sexual harassment; ensure that security forces are not dominated by patronage-based networks.
- Train and build capacity on gender issues.
- Back up SSR by clear guidelines delineating various security tasks as well as accountable, gender-sensitive oversight mechanisms.
