Paulina Quintao – The Secretariat of State for the Socio-Economic Support of Women (SEM) re-established the Gender Working Groups (GWGs) in those Ministries and Secretariats which have already been restructured.
The National Director for Gender Development and Policy (NDGDP), Henrique da Silva, said GWGs had an important role in supporting politicians and keeping gender issues on the agenda in the ministries' annual action plans and budgets.
As part of their role, da Silva said GWGs would also work to ensure that the integrated gender policy developed by SEM was implemented effectively within their respective ministries.
He said GWGs had not yet been established in some ministries, including Health, Agriculture, and Justice. GWGs have been established at both the national and municipality level to ensure the integrated gender policy is also implemented at local level.
GWG was established by the fifth government based on the resolution no. 27/2011 to implement gender policy in Timor-Leste.
Meanwhile, GWG President for the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training Policy and Employment (SEPFOPE) Jacinto Barros Gusmao said budget planning analysis would be conducted to ensure that all programs implemented benefited both men and women.
"We focus on budget planning and the programs of SEPFOPE should have a gender balance," he said. He said SEPFOPE program was also providing training to youth to promote gender equality between men and women.