The Representative of the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI), Hermanio Xavier, appeals to parents to treat their daughters and sons equally within the family as they have equal rights of access to every sector.
He highlighted the education sector and that girls must have equal access to an education to boys.
He said it is time to change the old culture of giving priority to boys.
“We should let our daughters continue their studies,” said SEPI Representative Xavier during the celebrations of the Day of Young Girls organized by NGO Plan International in Aileu District recently.
He said Timor-Leste has made significant progress in the promotion of equality but the patriarchal system continues to dominate especially in remote areas where families still put boys ahead of girls.
“We are not saying culture is bad but that it discriminates against girls,” he added.
He said also SEPI will try hard through its work with gender working groups established at the national and district levels to continue advocating for the elevation of girls rights at the rural and national level.
Cristina da Conçeicão, a mother, urged parents to keep encouraging and supporting girls to get access to an education despite having to deal with many challenges and that this is the only way women can enter the public arena.
She also urged girls to continue attending school even if their families face many challenges so they can compete with men is all sectors, in particular the sciences sector.
“All entities are required to keep supporting and encouraging young girls to get educated, to participate in democracy and make decisions,” she said.
