Timorese women push for equality

Timorese women push for equality

DILI, East Timor (AP): An influential women's group demanded on Tuesday that women's rights to be enshrined in East Timor's constitution, saying that for centuries they had been the victims of discrimination in the male-dominated society.

"Women fought and sacrificed dearly for the freedom of East Timor. Now we are fighting to include the aspirations of women in the constitution," said Maria Angelina Pereira, a member of the Gender and Constitutional Working Group.

The organization is urging the territory's political leaders to include a 10-point list of women's rights in the constitution, which will be drawn up later this year.

They include the right to live free from any form of violence, the right to health care and education and equality in the workplace.

East Timor is a staunchly patriarchal society with high rates of abuse against women, police say.