The Ministry of Interior, through the Vice-Minister of Interior, António Armindo, accompanied by the President of the Civil Protection Authority (APC – Portuguese acronym), the Superintendent of Police, Ismael da Costa Babo, met with the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion (SEII – Portuguese acronym), Maria do Rosário Fátima Correia, to coordinate the implementation of the second National Action Plan for the enactment of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1325 (2000), on Women, Peace and Security, for the period 2023-2027. The meeting took place on January 25th, 2023, at the Ministry of Interior premises, in Dili.
On October 31st, 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted Resolution 1325, reaffirming the importance of promoting gender equality in all peacebuilding and security promotion processes. It is an acknowledgement of the specific impacts of contemporary wars and situations of insecurity on the lives of women, girls, and young women worldwide and the efforts made to combat and minimise them. The document stresses the importance of women’s equal participation and full involvement in efforts to maintain and promote peace and security, as well as the need to increase their role in decision-making regarding conflict prevention and resolution and their participation in peace operations.
Timor-Leste adopted its first 1325 National Action Plan in 2016 for the period 2016-2020.
The 1325 National Action Plan sets out objectives and actions to be taken under four key pillars: Participation, Prevention, Protection and Peacebuilding. It also determines the set of activities to promote and ensure women’s more active participation in decision-making, namely in the defence and security sectors. In addition, the plan proposes concrete actions to revise laws, policies, and programmes to strengthen women’s active and meaningful participation in peacekeeping and state-building processes.
The plan was drafted by the Ministry of the Interior, with the participation of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence, and the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion. Civil society organisations will also support implementing the activities and follow-up and monitoring.
The Vice-Minister of the Interior, António Armindo, pointed out that “Timor-Leste is the third country in Southeast Asia to develop such a Plan and is among the 63 countries that have already taken this step”. Therefore “the Government will continue to support the application of this plan by implementing its activities and promoting and ensuring the participation of women in key positions, mainly in the area of defence and security, to contribute to peace and development”.
António Armindo stressed that “when Timorese women benefit from these activities, our nation will be stronger, our society more inclusive, and our people will be able to participate more in development”.
The Vice-Minister also acknowledged UN Women for its technical and financial support, which was fundamental for developing this plan.