Dili, December 14, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The RAEOA authorities together with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Timor-Leste Parliamentary Women’s Group (GMPTL) and members of the RAEOA Potential Women’s Association held the opening ceremony of the third Regional Congress of the Potential Women’s Association in the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse, Ambeno (RAEOA) with the theme, “Strengthening the RAEOA Women’s Association to Contribute to Decentralization and Local Power”. The activity was held at the Dominikana Hall, Sanane Pante Makassar.
Secretary of State for Equality by Exercise, current Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Céu Brites said that it was a great honor on behalf of the Secretary of State for Equality to participate in the general meeting of the Association of Potential Women of the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse, Ambeno to make the opening and meet with strong women.
“Women who work on the front lines to combat poverty, discrimination, stereotypes, various forms of violence, against anaphabetism, against infectious diseases such as HIV-AIDS, TB, Covid-19, Ribes and Climate Change that impact the lives of families and communities, especially women, girls, grandparents and people with disabilities.” Said the Deputy Minister of MSSI
She said that this general meeting should be an event, in addition to celebrating shared success, to also recognize the contributions of leaders and the efforts of potential women.
“Including family and partners that your success during the past 4 or 5 years, the success and progress are all thanks to the hard work, cooperation of all of you, all of you who are struggling to increase women’s participation at the sub-village and village level, try to empower women’s economy so that you can increase the economic income of women, girls and families.” She said.
In addition, they also contribute to the government program through their respective professional roles to contribute and reduce poverty rates, overcome malnutrition and unhealthy food to prevent hunger, especially in the long summer.
She also congratulated the Potential Women of the Special Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno along with all the structures and roles of women’s institutions are very important to continue the values of humanity through social attitudes that value, respect, advance and protect women’s rights. She hopes that the RAEOA Potential Women Association and its structures can continue to collaborate in this five-year mandate, implementing superior programs that empower the capacity and advance RAEOA women leaders through various programs.
As Secretary of GMPTL, Shanca Tilman said that based on the theme raised, namely inviting business actors to assess this activity so that in the future it can involve other women.
“But I just want to convey that it is not only for women, but also ask for support from men to provide support to female friends to carry out our activities, so that they can fill the gap for the sustainable development of this country, because we only talk about women without support from men, this is a little wrong.” She said.
She advised men to work together to support other women, because women and men have the same rights and obligations.
“In working, in doing any activity, women need support from men, because men also need support from women, for that we ask for cooperation between women and men, so we ask for support from men for us as women in doing daily activities, especially in seeing the progress of this country,” She added.
Therefore, based on this theme, the involvement of women in the regional development process has a very important relationship with gender, because women have a role in the regional development process, and economic development is a determining and differentiating factor in the division of labor, income, inheritance, production factors and other natural resources, especially land, therefore the role of women is very important in all processes.
On the other hand, the representative of the President of the RAEOA authority, Regional Secretary for Agricultural Affairs, Filomena Sila, said that the third congress of the Association of Potential Women of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse, Ambeno was very important for uniting women.
“Especially for women in rural areas, they must know that all of our friends still lack information, lack capacity and through this congress can re-elect the new General Chairperson of the Potential Women’s Association. I really appreciate the Internal General Chairperson of the Potential Women’s Association who has taken over the position with all the structures that have carried out the duties during the previous period.” Said the Representative of PAM RAEOA
She said that aspiring women can make a change for other women by providing training and encouraging them in any situation.
“For women, especially those in the rural areas, they must be brave and have a strong mentality to nominate themselves in any activity, because in reality show there are still many women who are not brave enough to nominate themselves as Village Head and sub-village Head, through this we can motivate them to continue to be strong mentally and not be afraid to nominate themselves in anything, especially for the position of Village Head and sub-village Head.” She added.
The Congress Ceremony of the Women’s Association in the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse, Ambeno (RAEOA) organized by the RAEOA Potential Women Association and received financial support from the Secretary of State for Equality with a total of 5 thousand USD and attended by GMPTL, PAM RAEOA Representative, Indonesian Consulate in RAEOA, Representative of the VPU-RAEOA Command Police, President of the RAEOA Potential Women Association, Local Government, Civil Society, the Most Reverend Dominican Sisters, S.E.I. Technical Team, National Director of Gender Equality Development DNDIJ-SEI, Development Partners such as BNCTL, Kaebauk and Technical Team, Observers, 138 Congress Members coming from 4 Post-Administrations such as Passabe, Makassar, Oesilo and Netibe.
Reported by : Estefania
Picture by : Media Officer of S.E.I.