The Timor-Leste Quadrennial Periodical Report (QPR) consultation process was a collaborative work, mainly between the State Secretary for Art and Culture (SEAC), the State Secretary for Social Communication (SECOMS), and the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO (TLNCU), implemented through various stages and involved a wide range of stakeholders. The UNESCO Jakarta Office supported the consultation process by providing financial support, as well as technical consultation through Daryl Neng Wirakartakusumah, a recognized QPR expert from Indonesia.
First step was a five-day workshop, which focused on introducing the UNESCO 2005 Convention followed by capacity building training for the Timor-Leste QPR Committee on the elaboration of the QPR and establishment of suggested working methods. The second step was a three-day workshop, which focused on evaluating drafts and updating other working documents, including the Timor-Leste QPR timeline. Starting from the third step, the technical consultation was provided in a more fluid nature via online due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, focusing on issues pertaining to public consultation preparation as well as CSO form distribution and validation, among others. Finally, the last technical consultation step focused on technical feedback for the final QPR draft in English via video conference.
The data collection was the most difficult part during the consultation process. Where the team needed to go through several constraints, related to accessing information from government and civil society organizations. It was not easy accessible comparing to others countries which the majority of information are available in internet, however the team had to do great effort, by holding several meeting with stakeholders to get information through interviews, questionnaires and visiting every department in each institutions until all information were obtained.
In addition to the technical consultation with UNESCO, the Timor-Leste QPR Committee also held several other consultations with various stakeholders, both from government institutions and civil society organizations. These consultations were initiated and financed by the SEAC. The consultation process with government institutions and civil society organizations were performed as listed below:
Government Institutions
1. State Secretary for Art and Culture, January 06, 2020;
2. State Secretary for Social Communication, January 08,2020;
3. State Secretary for Gender Equality and Inclusion, January 10, 2020;
4. General Directorate for National Statistics, February 6, 2020;
5. Prime Minister Cabinet, February 10, 2020;
6. Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, General Directorate for Tourism, February 10, 2020;
7. Radio and Television of Timor-Leste (RTTL, EP), February 19, 2020
8. National Authority for Communication (ANC), February 20, 2020
9. State Secretary for Social Communication, February 25, 2020
10. Press Council of Timor-Leste (CITL), February 26, 2020
11. State Secretary for Professional Training and Employment, February 28, 2020
12. Portugal Embassy in Timor-Leste, February 14, 2020
13. Indonesian Cultural Center in Timor-Leste, February 21, 2020;
Civil Society Organisations
1. Seday Design, February 25, 2020;
2. Xanana Reading Room, March 11, 2020;
3. Alola Foundation, March 11, 2020;
4. Arte Moris, March 11, 2020;
5. Timor Aid, March 11, 2020;
6. ALMAMOR, March 12, 2020;
7. Berliku Fanu Rai (BFR), March 12,2020
8. Casa de Produção Audio-Visual (CPA), March 12, 2020;
9. Centro Audiovisual Max Stahl Timor-Leste (CAMSTL), March 13, 2020;
10. Timor Furak, March 13, 2020;
11. Cor Timor, March 13, 2020;
12. Moris Hamutuk cultural group of Liquiça, May 18, 2020;
13. Pisulliq cultural group of Liquiça, May 18, 2020;
14. Manatuto Youth Center, May 19, 2020;
15. Many Hands International (MHI), May 19, 2020;
16. Associação da Arte e Cultura de Baucau (AACB), May 19, 2020;
17. Tivijox Production, May 21, 2020;
18. União Filme de Timor (UFT), May 22, 2020;
More than 40,000 years of human presence, 450 years of Portuguese colonization, 24 years of Indonesian occupation and a transition period under the administration of the United Nations, between 1999 and 2002, Timor-Leste continues to develop, keeping in mind its specific physical, linguistic and cultural characteristics in order to build solid cultural institutions and a sense of national identity.
In the 18 years of independence, there has often been a failure to recognize culture systems of life as a priority to integrate into the national agenda. Today, the main budget for cultural activity derives from the government state budget. However, during many periods, culture has not been a priority in the implementation of the national action plan. In some cases, policy interventions and practices considered challenges to promoting and developing culture activities, including 2005 UNESCO convention. A dilemma for policy implementation which is considered a barrier to pursuing the long-term Strategic Development Plan (SDP) of 2011-2030 is the lack of culture implementation on the ground. The application of the institutional structural system, such as the integration of the State Secretary for Art and Culture (SEAC) in a different ministry, which happened every single period, has changed every single period each time a new government is formed. This implied a cut down in state budget and a lack of financial allocation for the culture field in every single period which led towards a deadlock in activity implementation on the ground.
Despite not being prioritized on the national agenda, the development of the cultural sector is stipulated in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Article 59, paragraph 5, stating that “Everyone has the right to cultural enjoyment and creativity and the duty to preserve, protect, and value cultural heritage”. Based on this law, it is clear that the establishment of policies and measures for the sustainable development of the cultural sector had been mandated even before ratifying the 2005 UNESCO Convention. The two main policies related to the implementation of the Convention are the establishment of the National Policy for Culture and the integration of culture in the Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan (SDP) of 2011-2030, with the aim of reflecting Timorese views in creating a prosperous and strong nation in the next twenty years.
While implementing the 2005 Convention, Timor-Leste has managed to implement several main activities, including:
1. Establishing the National Cultural Day;
2. Fostering cultural participation within national events; and
3. Supporting cultural activities;
The Timor-Leste National Plan is more focused on public infrastructure development and other priorities than on culture. This knowing through the framework of culture policy hasn’t setup properly (Deadlock of policy implementation in Timor-Leste). However, during the period of implementing the 2005 Convention, Timor-Leste has faced several challenges, including some that were identified during the various consultations for the elaboration of the QPR. In general, the challenges faced include:
1. Lack of knowledge on the 2005 Convention;
2. Implementation of plans was not based on sustainable development;
3. Unstable government structure;
4. Lack of a statistical monitoring system for the cultural sector;
5. Inapplicable laws to implement the principles of the 2005 Convention;
6. Lack of coordination between line of ministries;
7. Lack of coordination between government institutions and civil society organizations on the implementation of the 2005 Convention;
8. Lack of knowledge in measurement and evaluation methods on the implementation of the 2005 Convention;
9. Lack of knowledge regarding income insurance for artists (local or community); and
10. Unbalanced income on the use of traditional culture, particularly local community properties;
From the challenges identified above, several solutions were suggested, including:
1. Reinforcing awareness of the 2005 Convention;
2. Reinforcing cooperation between line ministries;
3. Maximizing support for cultural groups; and
4. Establishing an advisory body for monitoring and evaluation;
| Organization type | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
Public Sector
| State Secretary for Social Comunication
| |
Public Sector
| Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO
| tlnationalcom@gmail.com
|
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Financial allocated:
1. In 2016: US 4,800.00
2. In 2017: US 1,900.00
3. In 2018: N/A
4. In 2019 : N/A
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Financial allocated:
1. 2016: US 1,331,000.00
2. 2017: US 1,526,000.00
3. 2018: N/A
4. 2019: US 1,841,000.00
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Financial allocated to National Festival of Culture
2015: U$ 38,000.00
2016: U$ 133,783.00
2018: U$ 27,918.00
2019 : U$ 20,000.00
N/A
N/A
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