rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

13.4 Licit drug trends
As with illicit drug use, there is no published
research specifically considering alcohol use
trends and its impacts. However, alcohol use
is highlighted as a key concern among gangs
and as a contributor to domestic violence. 749
The link between alcohol and domestic violence
was highlighted, with around a third
of reported domestic violence cases linked to
alcohol. 750 This issue was highlighted in 2004
and continues to be reported in the ‘gang’
context. In a 2006 WHO report on alcohol
control policies in the Southeast Asia region,
no data were available for Timor-Leste. 751
However, the WHO Global Status Report on
Alcohol 2004 shows a dramatic decline in per
capita pure alcohol consumption, but data
were recorded only until 1977. 752 The 2009
PDARN delegate also highlighted as emerging
concerns an apparent increase in ‘abuse’
of legal sedative drugs, consumption of traditional
homebrew (tuak sabu) and drinking
non-beverage alcohol (disinfectant).
Analogous to the situation in the Solomon
Islands, the contribution of high levels of
international security and law enforcement
personnel to substance use patterns should
not be overlooked. Recent media reports cite
the repatriation of personnel after being
discovered drunk on duty. 753 No official data
relating to consumption patterns among
these groups have been identified, but this
influence is considered to be of relevance.
13.5 Local responses
While Timor-Leste has been included in this
Pacific regional analysis, it is not represented
on any of the regional forums, including the
Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Pacific
Islands Law Officers’ Network, the Oceania
Customs Organisation and the Pacific Islands
Chiefs of Police. In contrast to the other
countries considered as part of this analysis,
Timor-Leste is included under the South-
East Asia Regional Office of WHO and is
not a beneficiary under any of the Pacific
regional programs funded by Australia.
Legislation
Timor-Leste is not listed as a signatory to
any of the key UN conventions on drug control
but there are plans to ratify the 1971
Convention (see Appendix 18.3: Pacific participation
in United Nations conventions
and treaties for details). Timor-Leste participates
in the Judicial System Monitoring
155
749 G. Kruk (2004), Post-Conflict Rehabilitation in East Timor: conflict sensitivity as crosscutting
issue within a food security programme. Dili: GTZ Governance and Democracy Sector
Programme (Crisis Prevention and Conflict Transformation).
750 Timor-Leste: Abortion laws in spotlight. IRIN (Humanitarian news and analysis service of
the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), 18 March 2009. Available at:
(accessed May 2009).
751 WHO (2006), Alcohol Control Policies in the South-East Asia Region: selected issues.
Alcohol Control Series no.3. New Delhi: WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.
752 Country profile for Timor-Leste in WHO (2004), Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004: South-
East Asia Region. Geneva: WHO.
753 Soldiers drunk on duty in East Timor. New Zealand Herald, 15 December 2008, available at:
(accessed February 2009).
Timor-Leste