Prime Minister and wife at the International Women’s Day Commemoration March
The Prime Minister, Rui Maria de Araújo, and his wife, Teresa Soares, took part in the International Women’s Day Commemoration March, held in Díli, on March 7th.
Under the theme “To accelerate gender equality process in Timor-Leste”, the event began at the Solidarity Garden, in Motael, finishing at the Lecidere’s Square. The march involved members of Government and the accredited Diplomatic Corps in Timor-Leste, members of the civil society, Non-Governmental Organizations and representatives from international organizations located in our country.
After the commemoration march, Rui Araújo called on the people present at the event, in order to pay more attention to the promotion of gender equality, leaving statistics behind. “We should carefully look at quality indicators, especially on women participation in important issues of social life”, referred the Prime Minister.
The Head of Government highlighted the importance of the family within the Timorese culture, by giving the example of rural areas, where there is greater inequality in terms of the influence and decision making exercised by women. Rui Araújo highlighted that education and economic independence are important ways of eliminating gender differences in Timor-Leste, by regretting the little involvement of men in order to reverse the present situation. For this purpose, he referred that it is essential to start educating inside the home, in order that respect prevails within the family and outside of it, through teachers.
The Head of Government finished his speech by saying that “by educating a boy, we are raising a person; by educating a girl, we are teaching a whole nation – both are educated and gender equality is consolidated”.
The International Women’s Day is annually celebrated on March 8th.
