DILI, 23 january 2025 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MoFAC), the Secretariat of State for Equality (SoSE), and UN Women jointly hosted the “Women in Leadership and Diplomacy Forum”. The event convened current and emerging leaders from diverse sectors, providing a platform to discuss, inspire, and amplify the voices of women in leadership. The forum featured a dynamic dialogue among women leaders that fostered connections and collaborations.
The forum celebrated the remarkable contributions of women to sustainable development and peace both globally and in TL. It aimed to inspire transformative change by addressing structural barriers and gender base discrimination that impede progress toward gender equality. By sharing stories of success and resilience, they even sought to encourage greater participation of Timorese women in leadership and decision-making roles, particularly in politics, diplomacy, peace, and security.
The President of Commission F of the National Parliament, Maria Gorumali Barreto, who spoke as a panelist, highlighted specific examples of women’s leadership driving significant positive changes.
“In Timor-Leste, women leaders have played a critical role in advancing peace and development – whether through spearheading community health initiatives, strengthening education systems, or advancing social security reforms. These stories of success must be told to inspire and empower more women to take on leadership roles. By celebrating these achievements, we demonstrate that women’s leadership is not only impactful but crucial for our collective progress as a nation,” said Barreto.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito Freitas said “As the world advances towards a more inclusive future, the ‘Women Leadership and Diplomacy Forum’ stands as a statement to the power of collective efforts in disseminating barriers, empowering women, and fostering transformative pathways for leadership and diplomacy.”
Since 2023, the annual “Women in Leadership and Diplomacy Forum” has provided opportunities for dialogue and engagement among state actors and women leaders from diverse backgrounds. Building on its success, this year’s event highlighted the ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration and inspiring the next generation of leaders”.
In her opening remarks, Elvina Sousa Carvalho, the Secretary of State for Equality, emphasized the critical role of women in shaping Timor-Leste’s future.
“Women have been at the forefront of our nation’s history and development. This forum is a vital platform to recognize their achievements, address the persistent challenges they face, and ensure they have equal opportunities to lead and contribute to Timor-Leste’s growth. By empowering women, we are building a more inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful society,” said Carvalho.
In the panel dialogue, UK Minister of State for Indo-Pacific Catherine West, who is visiting Timor-Leste as part of her tour to ASEAN countries, emphasized the importance of these events in promoting gender equality.
The forum is part of a broader initiative supported by the Regional Project Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: Preventing Violence and Promoting Social Cohesion in ASEAN, generously funded by the Governments of Canada, Korea, and the UK. This project provides vital support to ASEAN member states and observer state TL in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in the region, encouraging shared responsibility and accountability for achieving common WPS goals.
UN Representative in Timor-Leste, Nishtha Satyam, who moderated the High-Level Dialogue, emphasized the importance of creating spaces for solidarity among women leaders.
“Creating platforms and spaces where women leaders can exchange informal notes and foster meaningful connections goes a long in cementing solidarity between women leaders. Acknowledging the shared nature of their struggles may strengthen their collective resolve to push boundaries and dismantle barriers to leadership,” said Satyam.
Beyond the Forum, annual training workshops and capacity-building activities organized jointly by UN Women, MoFAC, and line ministers continue to equal women leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to address gender and development issues effectively. These efforts also focus on localizing the WPS agenda to ensure its relevance and impact in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins