Dili, September 29, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Secretary of State for Equality (S.E.I), through the Director General, opened a training session on Gender Equality as well as Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and sexual harassment for students at the University of Peace (UNPAZ). This training was accessed by Média Democracia from S.E.I’s official page today.
S.E.I’s Director General, Armando da Costa, stated that the training aims to strengthen knowledge and prevention of Gender-Based Violence, Sexual Harassment, and issues related to Gender Equality at the university level.
“This training will strengthen university students’ knowledge on issues of Gender Equality, Gender-Based Violence, and Sexual Harassment. It provides university students with knowledge, attitudes, and skills to prevent and respond to situations of discrimination and violence, understand basic concepts, gender perspectives, gender equality, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence, and helps students to be sensitive to prevention practices on campus while motivating them to promote a culture of respect and equality,” said Director General of S.E.I, Armando da Costa.
The Director General further explained that during this opening, the Secretary of State for Equality (S.E.I), together with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Culture (MESSK), officially launched a program called “Safe Campus” at UNTL. Later, several private universities also signed an agreement with MESSK to implement Safe Campus.
“Safe Campus is an environment where both female and male students, each with their own character, can participate in the educational process in schools, including universities, freely without fear, intimidation, or exploitation,” added the Director General of S.E.I.
The Director General affirmed that this training is expected to help students to understand the definition of gender equality, GBV, and sexual harassment, as well as national laws and relevant international instruments, along with the impacts of violence on victims, families, and communities.
“Through this training, we expect students to become sensitive and respectful of gender differences, to adopt new attitudes against discrimination, stereotypes, and gender-based prejudice, and to be ready to reject and report practices of sexual harassment,” explained Director General of S.E.I, Armando da Costa.
He underlined that this training will also increase students’ knowledge to identify potential situations of GBV and sexual harassment on campus. Students will gain the capacity to engage in preventive actions such as campaigns and positive activism, promote a culture of respect and safety for all students, reduce cases of discrimination and sexual harassment in academic environments, and foster equal participation of men and women in academic life and leadership.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State for Equality explained that together with its partners, S.E.I has already carried out similar training with topics for students at UNTL and private universities, as well as for students in the municipalities, facilitated by S.E.I through the National Directorate for Gender Equality Policy (DNPIG) in collaboration with partners ALFeLa, FOKUPERS, and TAF-NABILAN.
Reporter: Nelfiano
Photo: Media S.E.I