DILI, 10 november 2020 (TATOLI)- The Interior Ministry and the Embassy of Japan along with the UN Woman held hosted 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security (WPS).
UN Women collaborated with the Ministry of Interior, with generous support from the Government of Japan to review progress on the National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and results from its 2016-2020 partnership on Women, Peace and Security.
In a commemoration of the 20th anniversary Timor-Leste is reflecting its own progress in advancing its 2016-2020 National Action Plan on Resolution 1325(NAP 1325).
Leader from the Ministry of Interior in coordination with various line ministries, state institutions and civil society, the NAP 1325 has been implemented with technical assistance from UN Women and the generous support of the Government of Japan
In 2020 Timor-Leste and Japan are among 85 UN Member States that have developed a National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The Timor-Leste NAP 1325 supports activities to promote and guarantee women’s participation in all decision-making positions and processes, including in the defense and security sectors, peacebuilding and development.
Since the NAP 1325 was adopted in 2016, the Ministry of Interior has established a Secretariat and a coordination structure to liaise with 12 other line ministries and various civil society organizations to take forward the Plan’s 47 activities.
These activities are organized into four pillars focusing on women’s participation in leadership and decision-making; prevention of violent conflict; protection from violence and discrimination and gender-responsive planning and post-conflict justice for building peace.
Through the project “Enhancing Women’s Meaningful Participation in Peacebuilding and State building”, the Government of Japan and UN Women have supported Timor-Leste to implement its NAP 1325, with a focus on women’s participation and role in conflict prevention.
The Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, Kinefuchi Masami, in his opening remarks, said the $2.8 million project was financed by the Japanese Government and successfully implemented by UN Women over the last four years.
“We also worked together with the Government of Timor-Leste and Civil Societies. I would like to thank all the people involved for their dedicated work.” Ambassador Kinefuchi Masami at the press release from the Japan Embassy in Dili.
He insisted that the Government of Japan supported the agenda of woman for peace and security which is strengthen the role of woman in taking a decision and empowerment.
“This is the part of improvement of the human security and to reach the Sustainable development objective,” Mr. Kinefuchi Masami said.
Mr Masami added since the Plan was adopted in 2016, 70% of its activities have been initiated. The commemorative event and sharing of project results will be followed by a roundtable discussion to review NAP 1325 progress and identify areas of priority moving forward.
The Vice Minister of Interior, Antonio Armindo affirms Timor-Leste remains committed to continuing with second phase of the NAP 1325 from 2021-2025.
This Timor-Leste event follows a series of global discussions for the 20th Anniversary of the WPS Agenda.
These events and the UN Secretary General’s 2020 report on Women, Peace and Security have highlighted, among other areas, the need for greater attention and commitment to increasing women’s participation in leadership and conflict resolution, setting targets to better fund women’s organizations, investing in data to inform policies and more urgency to achieve progress.
At the same time, the head of the UN Woman Residence, Sunita Caminha said In the context of Timor-Leste, the commitment to the WPS Agenda is part of the country’s history of resistance and resilience.
“It is this commitment that led to the adoption of the NAP 1325 in 2016,” Ms Caminha said.
“Today, the country must take actions and make investments for WPS to become a part of its future, where women have equal power and enjoy equal rights for inclusive and sustainable peace” Ms Sunita Caminha said.
Journalist: Nelson Sousa
Editor: Francisco Simoes
