East Timor (Timor-Leste) became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on May 20, 2002, after 25 years of Indonesian occupation. Population estimates range from 800,000 to 1.1 million people as of July 2009. The key issues concerning women include challenges in accessing justice, sexual and other forms of violence, and the impact of traditional values.

In 2002, the United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET) helped establish a Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation (CAVR) to investigate human rights violations committed between during Indonesian occupation, with specific attention given to women. However, access to justice for victims of sexual and other forms of violence and for those who were displaced by the conflict remains a challenge.

A number of cultural norms continue to ...