Government of Timor-Leste

On the 7th of March, at the Salão Delta Nova in Delta Comoro, the Secretariat of State for the Promotion of Equality (SoSPE), held a seminar, to celebrate the International Women's Day, under the theme "Participation of young people on the national development towards transformation in the future."

Idelta Rodrigues, the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality, stressed the importance of the seminar taking into account the overall understanding regarding the issue of gender equality which cuts across all aspects and sectors that are part of the state and of the governmental institutions.

She also referred that, the international issue "Connecting girls inspiring future" reflects an encouragement to the youth in their understanding of the role they should perform within the society, as participant citizens in the country development.

The Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, Miguel Manetelo, referred the participation of the youth on national development, in relation to youth and sport, and that most of the opinions will give way to the participation in the political life without realizing the other sectors, which are also important.

Miguel Manetelo also noted that "sports activities are practiced mainly by young people, when we mention youth, we are talking about sports, and as we talk about youth development we are referring to youth character development, the transformation of mindset within the civic education allowing the participation in the  State and Nation building process . It is our responsibility to develop young people's character through sports practice".

Lourenço Fontes, General-Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, considered "the theme of this celebration is a matter of utmost importance. The participation of youth on national development, in this perspective of changing the future, understands that the role of the gender includes women and men in balancing the exercise of their role and their activities, whether in the community or in the workplace. The female juvenile layer must be prepared in the best way so they  can be on the same level as men".

The national speakers of the seminar were the members of the Youth Parliament who spoke on "the role of the Youth Parliament in society and its contribution to national development" and the President of the National Youth Council of Timor-Leste, Leo Vigildo Hornai, with the theme "Timorese youth perspective in the development of gender equality" and the international speakers were: Marissa Haque, from Indonesia, highlighting the theme "the role of women in the legal basis sensitive to gender issues", and Ikang Fazwi also from Indonesia with the theme "what leads the youth to become creative in national development."