The Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SoSPI) celebrated World Rural Women’s Day under the theme “Empowering Women in the economic sector and eradicating poverty”. This theme aims at highlighting the economic development of the life of women at the rural level. The ceremony took place on Saturday, October 15, at the Sergio Vieira de Mello Training Center in Maubara, Liquiça district.

“I ask to our female friends present at this ceremony, to be attentive and uncomplicated – and this is very important – always seek to develop your capabilities. If we wait for the State to do everything, we stall and don’t advance. Creativity, courage, team spirit and commitment are important to obtain benefits and contributions to our future development, stressed the Secretary of State, Idelta Rodrigues.

Idelta Rodrigues also spoke about the contents of the CEDAW Convention – ratified by the State of Timor-Leste – who proposed the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women”. Article 14 of the Convention says that the state should take appropriate measures to give importance to women in rural areas. After four years, it is up to the State to submit its report to the CEDAW Committee, enhancing its duty to develop women in rural areas, enabling them to be able to enjoy some benefit for themselves”, said the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality.

On this occasion, the Minister of Economy and Development, João Gonçalves, considered the Maubara sub-district as one of the regions in which various initiatives were taken and implemented, which shows great importance to the regional economic development of Maubara”. We must not forget that rural areas are the regions where 80% of our total population live and 70% of those are most in need, which means that our government should pay more attention to rural areas”, said João Gonçalves .

The Member of Parliament, Fernanda Lay showed herself expectant about the next step and hoped that the theme set for the ceremony can reflect on the women’s mood, helping to improve the economic life of the family, through art and craft activities.

Rita Redi, on behalf of the Deputy Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Timor-Leste, emphasized the aspect of not looking ahead to achieve progress, modernity and a lot of money, as is well known today, since this does not guarantee security for women in their struggle for dignity and harmony in their home, particularly in a country where the struggle for access to health, equality of progress is the method to encourage the mainstay of the economy, human respect and dignity of the person as a human being”.

During the celebration, the movie “The Right of Women’s Human Rights” was projected, a local products fair took place and craft contests whose competitors were women representing the sub-districts of Metinaro, Manufahi and Maubara.