East Timorese women's rights groups have gathered more than 10,000 signatures backing the inclusion of a "Women's Rights Charter" in the territory's future constitutiuon, activists announced Tuesday in Dili.

The petition accompanies a 10-point draft charter, which includes demands for social, health and educational rights, equal access to traditional law and protection from domestic violence.

The charter was the focus of discussion Tuesday in Dili at a women's rights conference opened by UN administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello.

The draft, which pays special attention to discriminatory dowry and inheritance traditions, says the future constitution, which will be drawn up by a constituent assembly to be elected August 30, "must establish an institutional mechanism to protect and implement women4s rights in East Timor".