Independent women : the story of women’s activism in East Timor

The story of women’s activism in East Timor with comparative chapters on Cambodia, Mozambique and Namibia.

This book tells the story of how East Timorese women activists mobilised against a patriarchal society and claimed their right to participate in their new independent and democratic nation.

Drawing on personal research and extensive interviews with women activists in East Timor, the authors explore the history and contribution of the East Timorese women’s movement during and after the Indonesian occupation. They examine the growing influence of the women’s movement as the country moved into independence, and analyse the key challenges facing East Timorese women in their ongoing quest for rights and greater political participation.

The book includes comparative chapters by expert guest authors on the lessons to be drawn from women’s experiences in Cambodia, Mozambique and Namibia - countries which have also experienced the transition from an extended period of conflict to eventual independence.