Paulina Quintao – The National Director for Integrated Policy on Gender Approaches and Women's Capacity, at the Secretariat of State for Equality and Inclusion (SEII), Maria Filomena Babo Martins said advocacy services on gender equality and on women's emancipation in Timor-Leste started in 1975, and despite some significant progress since independence 20 years ago, Timor-Leste is still far from reaching gender equality.

She said the government and its partners have made many efforts towards greater gender equality in Timor-Leste since 2002, including in creating policies on gender integrated approaches aimed at promoting women's participation across all ministries, and to the private sector, but discrimination still exists toward women.

"In our 2030 Strategic National Development Plan, we demand a fair society with gender equality, which means women and girls have rights and their dignity must be respected, so they are valued in our culture. However, we have not seen any substantial achievements. We must continue to make efforts in all areas," she said in her office, in Kaikoli, Dili.

She also said results show some progress in the political sphere, because women's participation in politics, including in the National Parliament has reached 38%, in the government 11%, and 5% in local leadership.

She added it should not be that difficult because in the country's Constitution, in article 17, line 1, states that women and men are equal in society, financially, in political and cultural life, in the family, and this is the basis to develop the policies on eliminating discrimination against women and to promote an inclusive Timorese society.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Young Women's Movement Organization (MOFFE), Yasinta Lujina said Timorese society and culture is still very patriarchal, and men continue to dominate in all sectors, including within the family.

"We have not attained the principles of equality, because the basis of this principle is equality between women and men. Although compared to our previous reality, there have been some significant changes," she said.

She added that Timor-Leste needs to strengthen socialization in the communities about the laws that guarantee women's participation, that promote gender equality, and that these principles are not from outside, but based on Timor-Leste's own laws.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/17359-gender-equality-in-tl-still-out-of-reach