The President of the Board of Timor-Leste's Women's Network Timor-Leste Judite Dias Ximenes said women's representation within the divulged composition of the VIII Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste has decreased compared to previous governments.

She said in 2015, women made up 24% of the leadership roles but in 2018, this has decreased to 14%.

She said the lack number of women in the executive reflects prevailing patriarchal mindsets within the political parties which is still a major obstacle for women to get into politics.

"We continue to provide advocacy and encourage women through the trainings, but reality shows that it is still difficult to break the patriarchal barrier," she said during the opening of a training activity for women in the political parties held in Dili recently.

She said the number of women in legislature is consistent with the quota system as guaranteed in the law with 30% of the National Parliament mandated to be for female MP's or 1 in 3 seats belongs to a female MP.

She added the Article 17 of the Constitution ensure equality between women and men as having equal rights within the family and culture, and in social, economic and political life but despite talking about it, the government does not adhere to.

She said also that the Timor-Leste has adopted the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

She expressed concern because even though in Timor-Leste all sectors talk about substantive equality and non-discriminatory equality, women continue to face much discrimination.

The President of the Council of Women in Politics CAUCUS Maria Exposto said the lack of women representation has nothing to do with women's capacity or of not being ready to assume leadership roles, the biggest challenge for women is that they are not seen.

She said women's organizations use this reality as motivation to continue to prepare women for leadership roles by providing trainings and promote them in public so their presence and the capacity can be witnessed by society.

"We have the capacity and are ready to compete with men, but we still hide ourselves and have not shown to men and the world that Timorese women can assume any decision-making role," she said.

She added women's lives will not improve if they are not involved in politics, and in leadership roles because only women can talk about the problems that affected their own lives.

She urged women who are in leadership roles to be accountable, innovative and representative in their decisions so that these are beneficial to all other women.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/15742-viii-government-with-fewer-women-leaders