Paulina Quintso – The Director of CAUCUS (Women in Politics) Foundation, Paula Corte Real said the foundation is committed to continue to prepare women with potential for decision making roles.

She said she believes women's potential is never-ending so it is important to enable them to acquire new knowledge every day and to ensure women are represented in decision-making positions.

"We do not want women to serve as mere decoration; they need to be top leaders and make decisions, to analyse and to respond to the community's needs," said Director Corte Real in her office, in Kaikoli, Dili.

She added that for new nations like Timor-Leste, women's political participation is already exemplary but it is still limited in terms of decision-making due to tradition that deems women as less able to make decisions.

She said also that even though there are some local female leaders that women need to update their skills in management, in budget planning, in reporting, in monitoring, in advocacy and in public speaking and coordination, so they can be more effective leaders.

Meanwhile the President of the Women's Aileu Association for Development Action (FADA) Cristina da Conceicso said their local women are reading themselves to take part in the next general elections including the municipality election, the xefe sukus (village chiefs) election and in the 2017 general election.

"We have taken a part in the strategic plan discussions for the pre-desconcentration process as well as across other sectors," she said.

She added her association will keep making an effort to provide training and prepare women with potential to be able to prove that they have leadership qualities that can help address the community's needs.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/gender/13488-caucus-getting-women-ready-for-leadership-roles