Dili, May 15, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Secretary of State for Equality (SEI), in partnership with relevant ministries, officially opened an internal pre-validation meeting workshop to discuss the draft roadmap for the implementation of the Maubisse Declaration – Phase III. This activity was shared via SEI’s official page earlier this week.
Director General of SEI, Armando da Costa, stated that the Maubisse Declaration is a nationally and regionally recognized document, serving as a platform for collaboration and sharing experiences. The declaration has even gained attention at the global level.
“The general objective of this internal pre-validation workshop meeting is to update stakeholders on the progress in developing the roadmap for implementing the Maubisse Declaration – Phase III, under SEI’s strategic management,” said da Costa.
He further explained that the outcomes of this mini-workshop will help strengthen coordination between SEI and various ministries, including BNCTL, in revising the draft roadmap. This revision will be presented at a formal validation colloquium with 17 implementing entities and BNCTL, tentatively scheduled for 15 May 2025. It also includes coordination and preparation for the official launch of the roadmap.
“At the regional Asia-Pacific level, last year we received an award for our work in the field of Care Economy. This was in recognition of the efforts made by the State of Timor-Leste through SEI and its ministerial partners in establishing and implementing the Maubisse Declaration,” said the Director General.
He emphasized that Timor-Leste is now being observed globally for its commitment to promoting gender equality and fighting inequality through this landmark document.
“We aim to work closely with our partners to strengthen this initiative. Through implementing Phase III of the Maubisse Declaration, we identified certain gaps and areas needing improvement. That’s why we are aligned and ready to move forward positively and constructively in developing the roadmap,” he added.
The Director General pointed out that while Phases I and II of the Maubisse Declaration were implemented without a formal roadmap, Phase III represents a more serious and committed effort to develop one. This will enable SEI and its partners to carry out the implementation with greater effectiveness and accountability.
“This program has shown promising signs early this year. The Maubisse III team from SEI has visited key ministries to initiate discussions and gather input on the development of the roadmap. These ministries have demonstrated strong commitment by actively participating in the drafting process,” he reported.
On another note, Vishal Gandhi, Head of Pillar 2 – Progressive Public Finance Management, stated that the pre-validation workshop is a continuation of discussions initiated in the past four to five months to monitor progress and engagement.
“This pre-validation workshop offers an important moment of reflection. All participants are encouraged to use this time to contribute meaningful ideas on improving the implementation and monitoring framework of the Maubisse Declaration Phase III. This will help us track progress according to the commitments outlined in the declaration,” said Gandhi.
He also took the opportunity to commend the Director General of SEI for strong leadership and advocacy for equality and inclusion, expressing hope that the program will succeed in the future.
In summary, the pre-validation workshop brought together SEI and ministerial representatives to discuss and shape the draft roadmap for the implementation of the Maubisse Declaration Phase III.
Report: Nelfiano
Photo: Media-SEI