Dili, September 29, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Secretary of State for Equality (SEI) represented the State of Timor-Leste in sharing its experiences related to the country’s struggle for women’s rights at a high-level women’s conference marking its fourth anniversary. The conference was held at the General Assembly Hall, UNHQ in New York on 22 September 2025, and Média Democracia accessed this information through SEI’s official page.
Secretary of State for Equality, Elvina Sousa Carvalho, spoke at the conference on Women with the theme: “Review, resources, and accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”
“For this reason, I would like to state that Timor-Leste continues its hard work in the struggle for women’s rights in Timor-Leste, while also recognizing the achievements made and the ongoing efforts still needed to promote women’s rights,” said Secretary of State for Equality, Elvina Sousa Carvalho.
She further explained that since independence in 2002, Timor-Leste has placed gender equality at the core of its nation-building, enshrining rights in its Constitution and implementing national frameworks to address gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, children’s rights, disability inclusion, and human trafficking. Gender-responsive budgeting has also ensured resources are directly allocated to support these commitments.
“There has been significant progress, including one of the highest proportions of women in parliament in Southeast Asia, improvements in girls’ education, maternal health, and support services for survivors of violence. However, rural women, women with disabilities, and young women continue to face systemic barriers and social norms that limit their opportunities. Despite these obstacles, Timor-Leste continues to strengthen efforts to build inclusive systems and advance equality,” she added.
The Secretary of State informed that moving forward, Timor-Leste will prioritize two key areas: freedom from poverty and zero violence. Initiatives such as the Maubisse Declaration drive women’s economic empowerment, while a comprehensive national action plan focuses on eliminating violence, strengthening institutions, and expanding survivor-centered support services.
She emphasized that Timor-Leste is calling on the international community to work together to fulfill the promises of Beijing and ensure a future where women and girls live free from poverty and violence.
On this important occasion, the Secretary of State was accompanied by the Head of SEI’s Department of Political Relations and Development Partners, Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to the United States, and officials from SEI’s Cabinet.
Reporter: Nelfiano
Photo: Media S.E.I