[TimorLesteStudies] ANU Regnet Seminar:TOMORROW 28 JULY: Addressing Gender Health Inequalities in Timor-Leste: Governance Reform and The Right to Health

[Bu Wilson]

Regnet Seminar

Addressing Gender Health Inequalities in Timor-Leste: Governance Reform and
The Right to Health

Ms Clíonadh O'Keeffe, PhD Candidate, Global Women's Studies, School of
Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway
Venue: Coombs Extension Lecture Theatre (Building 8, room 1.04) (Map/Street
View)
Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm

Abstract

Progress in overcoming health inequalities experienced by women in post
conflict Timor-Leste has been undermined by the failure of governance to
attach sufficient weight to equality. To address this, the paper proposes
the *Right to Health* framework which has marginalised groups, participation
and accountability as its principle concerns and demands for structures and
processes of accountability that are accessible, transparent, and that
empower citizens to participate in planning, implementation and monitoring
of their health care. The proposition is timely given the current context of
governance reforms that *will not only make service delivery more effective,
but also increase participation of all people in government work* (Minister
Leite 19/02/2009). However building meaningful participation of all actors
is an enormously difficult process, particularly in post-conflict
environments. The paper teases out and highlights the potential of the
framework for East Timorese women*s participation in local health governance
specifically the proposed municipalities structures at district level.

Bio

Clíonadh O* Keeffe is a first year doctoral candidate in the School of
Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway. The
title of her research project is *Women*s Health, Multilevel Governance and
Human Rights in Post Conflict Timor Leste: A Case Study in Engendering
Transition*. She is particularly interested in the impacts of governance
reform on East Timorese women*s sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR)
and the extent to which the current processes of decentralization taking
place in Timor Leste help or hinder the realization of those rights. She
holds a Masters degree in Gender and Development from the Institute of
Development Studies (IDS) University of Sussex, UK. Clíonadh has worked in
Timor-Leste in
2000-2002 and 2007 as a UNV with UNTAET and UNMIT and with Irish Aid.
She currently works as the coordinator of DERN, an Irish Aid funded
Development Education and Research Network in the School of Political
Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG).
Prior to joining NUIG she worked as a community development worker in the
west of Ireland for almost ten years. The main focus of her work has been to
support the realization of marginalized Traveller women*s right to health
where she coordinated a rural health project and later a primary health care
project within in a rights based non-governmental community organization. 

Bu Wilson
Regulatory  Institutions Network (RegNet) Research School of Pacific and
Asian Studies
College of Asia and the Pacific,
Australian National University 
Canberra   ACT   0200 
AUSTRALIA 

T: 02 6125 3194
F: 02 6125 1507
M: 0407 087 086
E: Bu.Wilson at anu.edu.au



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