Dili, October 25, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The Timor-Leste Sports Confederation (CDTL) in collaboration with UN Women conducted a training on Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence for 43 athletes over two days.
CDTL President Macário F. Sanches said that UN Women Timor-Leste is working with CDTL to provide training for federations under CDTL.
“The purpose of this activity is to improve practical knowledge in sports organizations, leadership in sports organizations to have knowledge, how to respect women and gender equality in sports activities, advance women in sports organizations and avoid sexual harassment in sports activities,” said the CDTL President to reporters at City 8, on Thursday.
He said that during the two-day training, participants would study various subjects that UN Women uses to promote sports activities.
“They will study the forms used by UN Women to promote sports activities so that sexual harassment does not occur anywhere, we collaborate to develop guidelines so that CDTL and association federations can use them at the National level to the Municipal level for the purpose and practice in sports activities.” He said.
He continued, UN Women is involved in the field of sports because this activity is widely participated by women, men and people with disabilities, therefore it is divided into two parts so that everyone has knowledge in sports activities, can respect each other, especially women who hold positions in federations and associations.
On this occasion, the Program Manager of Hamutuk ba Igualdade (Together for Equality) UN Women in Timor-Leste, Nuntana Tangwinit said that UN Women is partnering with the Confederation to strengthen the capacity to combat sexual harassment.
“This activity is a collaboration between UN Women and the Confederation in a program called, ‘Together for Equality’ with the main objective of strengthening the capacity of sports federations in order to prevent and combat sexual harassment in the scope of sports, including Timor-Leste sports.” Said the representative of UN Women
She continued, this activity also continued into the sports sector because it had started with the Basketball Federation in Timor Leste.
“The follow-up activities carried out for the first time began with the activities of the Basketball Federztion which has the quality and purpose to support the Basketball Federation in developing the capacity and knowledge of people.” She said.
She said, besides that, there are also other activities which UN Women also involve young people from universities and elementary schools regarding respect for public knowledge regarding sexual activity.
“Some of the activities are about safe spaces, so they partner with UN Women involving young people from universities, they also have some activities with primary schools to integrate the curriculum in the spectrum of school activities that are called irresponsible, how our young people can learn, so be filled with high respect for people’s knowledge for the act of sexual activity,” She said.
This training was attended by 25 federations with the hope that it would have a positive impact on all federations, both national and international, because in 2006 the National and International Olympic Committees had stated that there would be no tolerance for sexual harassment in sporting activities.
In addition, Carolina Miguela da Costa as a Siklism athlete expressed her gratitude to the organizing committee who had held this training to talk about gender equality because most of this happens in big countries including Timor-Leste.
“In this meeting, I want to convey a thought for us, especially the younger generation and also the community to talk about gender equality where everyone has the same power to participate in various tasks and activities, because most of the time in sports gender equality occurs especially in the Siklisme federation which prioritizes men.” She said.
She conveyed that should continue to pay attention to all parties, especially athletes who are members of all federations so that they get the same priority, both male and female, so that everyone can get the opportunity to participate in any sporting activity.
Reported by : Estefania
Photo : Estefania