Media Release - FRETILIN scholarship program to promote women's rights

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2007 Parliamentary Elections

"Defending Timor-Leste's independence"

Media release
12 June 2007

FRETILIN scholarship program to promote women's rights

The FRETILIN government will fund scholarships designed to encourage
girls to complete primary, secondary and tertiary education as part of
its drive to raise the status of women.

The scholarship program will initially fund a few hundred scholarships
for each of the 13 districts, starting next year.

FRETILIN General Secretary Dr Mari Alkatiri said today a second-term
FRETILIN government would ensure more girls received the opportunity
to attend primary and secondary school and university in Timor-Leste.

The party's commitment to fund the scholarship program was made during
a six-hour dialogue with FRETILIN representatives from Dili and
outlying areas.

Dr Alkatiri said the number of scholarships funded would be evaluated
each year depending on revenue received from Timor-Leste's petroleum
resources.

"This is an affordable, sustainable and effective initiative by
FRETILIN to improve retention rates, particularly from upper primary
school to university and ensure that girls complete their education up
to tertiary level," he said.

"There are currently more opportunities for boys to study in secondary
school and beyond. This is due to financial and cultural barriers
which prevent women from completing their studies.

"You cannot exclude 50% of your population from participating in the
economic, social and political development of the society and nation.
This is what you are effectively doing if you do not remove the
barriers to women realising their enormous potential.

"FRETILIN has a proud record of promoting women's rights and gender
equality. The scholarship program is further evidence of our
commitment to equal rights for women."

For more information, please contact:
Jose Teixeira (+670) 728 7080 (Dili) or send an email to
fretilin.media@gmail.com