On March 14^th, 2024, the Secretary of State for Equality, Elvina Sousa Carvalho, delivered a speech highlighting Timor-Leste’s progress in women’s rights during the high-level meeting of the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held in the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York. 

CSW, the UN’s largest annual meeting on gender equality and women’s empowerment began on March 11^th and will continue until March 22^nd. This year’s theme is “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”.

During her speech, the Secretary of State emphasised the successes achieved by Timor-Leste in fulfilling its national commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women. In particular, she highlighted Timor-Leste’s leadership in the Asian region and the world, both in terms of women’s political participation and in occupying leadership positions. She also highlighted the implementation of policies aimed at promoting gender equality in all sectors of society. 

Timor-Leste has been an inspiring example in promoting women’s rights and leadership, not only in the Asian region but also globally. Women occupy more than a third of the seats in the National Parliament, and the country currently has the first woman President of the National Parliament. Women also hold ministerial positions, chairmanships of municipal authorities, and heads of villages (sucos) and hamlets (aldeias), highlighting the country’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment at all levels.

The Secretary of State also highlighted the implementation of necessary policies and initiatives in this area, such as the National Action Plan for Gender-Based Violence (2022-2032) and the Maubisse Declaration, which aims to empower rural women through access to microcredit, local industries, tourism, agriculture, and fishing. 

On the sidelines of the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Elvina Sousa Carvalho held bilateral meetings with representatives from Singapore, Chile, and UN Women to discuss experiences and opportunities for collaboration. Thus, she reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s ongoing commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women.

The first Commission on the Status of Women met in 1947, just two years after the founding of the United Nations. A group of 15 women representing governments from around the world came together in New York to start building the international legal foundations for gender equality.