Government of Timor-Leste

The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) travelled to Nepal, from July 29 to August 4, to participate in a comparative study on Nation and Peace building practices.

Upon her return, Minister Isabel Amaral Guterres stated at a press conference: "this visit was a good opportunity to learn and share experiences. In Nepal each ministry has a strategic experience about how to develop and implement this practice, thereby reducing conflicts, through prevention and Peace building measures. Until now, the strategy followed was that of an integrated approach to the development program, under the theme "No offenses", which aims at raising people´s awareness to conflicts".

"Nepal was the first South Asia country to nationally and successfully, follow the Strategic Guide for Gender and Social Inclusion. Taking into account our Timorese context, we think we can adapt it, and MSS will have to be the one to initiate this implementation", said Isabel Amaral Guterres.

"Nepal´s history, namelly in this area, has been drafted in line with the mediation performed by the community, which serves as a key factor for the effective promotion of Local Government and Decentralization, as well as in promoting conflict resolution at  local level, i,e, at suco  level. I took the initiative to invite the Minister for Peace and Reconstruction and the Minister of Foreign and Local Development (MFLD) to visit Timor-Leste and share their experiences with our MSS staff. As Timor-Leste does not yet have experts in this field , Nepal is in a position to provide us with training related to conflict sensitivity", said the Minister.

The Minister of Social Solidarity´s delegation included, the Director of Support Services and Social Cohesion, Amândio Amaral Freitas, and the Head of the Department for Peace-Building and Social Cohesion, Agostinho  Cosme Belo.