The Secretary of State for Local Development, Samuel Mendonca said, women’s participation in the implementation of National Program for Sucos Development (PNDS) is truly positive, as it is now reaching 53%.
He said, in policy of gender equality, women participation in PNDS should reach 40%, fortunately the fact of staffs recruitment for position of responsibility and technician in PNDS in districts are 88 and women percentage rising to 53%.
For this reason, he said don’t consider women are not able to do what men can do. “Like motorbike brand of Kawasaki that we buy, people think they are not able to ride, but our younger sisters can ride it to districts,” SE Mendonsa said in the National Parliament.
He continued, the 53% of women involvement, some assume position of decision maker such as be responsible and coordinator for programs including technicians.
Coordinator Program of Caucus of Women in politics, Paula Corte Real appeal to women’s representative in the Sucos Council to actively participate and also take decision for infrastructure projects of PNDS that take place in Sucos.
“It really improves the lives communities specifically responding to the demand of women in the remote area and ameliorate their lives,” she said.
She is proud of the government specially the Ministry of State Administration (MAE) who also consider the women participation in all important programs in Sucos.
President of Female Group of Parliamentary Member in Timor-Leste (GMPTL), Deputy Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares on the other hand, questioning the women participation in PNDS, as Sucos Leaders don’t involve women representatives in Sucos’ Council in decision making.
“It requires a deep monitoring, so there is no discrimination and everybody can participate and give decision to any important issue in their own Suco, not only Chiefs of Sucos take decision.
She appeals to the women representatives in Sucos to actively participate in all the programs benefiting them.
