Paulina Quintao – Three-hundred women candidates in 12 municipalities, including Oecusse, have been confirmed for the upcoming suku (village) elections later this month.
Spokesperson for the I am 100% Ready commission Yasinta Lujina said women's organizations would continue to provide training and accompany women during the campaign process and up until the election.
"We encourage them (female candidates) to show their capacity and ability to their community so that they can develop their suku," she said in Dili.
Although the women's organizations had made lot of effort to boot women's participation, she said they continued to face obstacles and support for female candidates from the wider society remained minimal.
However, women's organizations were also raising awareness among voters and candidates on suku laws and the election system, including the new law which guarantees women's participation.
The new suku election system this year would differ from the last suku elections, as voters would be able to choose their representatives and delegates individually instead of voting collectively.
Lujina said an election would be held in the sub-village assembly to choose the head of village, head of sub-village and the male and female representatives. After this members of the elected council will then appoint a traditional representative, as well as male and female youth representatives.
"It is important that the 442 sukus all have women candidates as this is guaranteed under the law – whether they are chosen or not it depends on the voters," said Lujina.
She said the numbers of female candidates participating was higher than previous elections as many women felt more confident to come forward publicly as leaders.
President of the Women Candidates Association Maria Exposto said Ermera had 39 candidates running for head of suku, while more than 200 women were ready to run for head of sub-village.
"Thirty-nine candidates have got supporters [and] they are attending training and beginning to have dialogue with their communities," she said.
In 2009 just one woman from Ermera municipality was elected as head of suku of the 52 sukus, but Exposto expects the numbers to increase this year.
The I am 100% Ready Commission was established in 2015 by women's organizations and aims to provide training and support to potential female candidates running in this year's election.