Strengthening women’s participation in economic and political spheres was the priority issue at the fourth meeting of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) on gender equality, recently held in Timor-Leste.
The Secretary of State for Socio-Economic Support of Women (SEM), Veneranda Lemos, said there were many issues discussed at the meeting, including justice, health, education and security, with a focus on women’s political and economic empowerment.
The issues discussed formed the basis of a 2016-2018 action plan, which was approved by all country members.
“Now we just talk about how to strengthen women’s role in the economy and politics and how to strengthen women to compete in this era of globalization,” she said at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFAC) at Pantai Kelapa, Dili.
The so-called ‘Dili declaration’ was signed by all member countries who pledged to implement the action plan over the next two years.
The ministers and secreatries of state responsible for gender issues from Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Guinea Bissau and Timor-Leste participated in the meeting.
Absent were reresentatves from Brazil, Mozambique, Cape Verde and Guinea Equatorial.
Portugal’s Secreatry of State for Citizenship and Equality, Catarina Marcelino, said this action plan on gender equality was an important step.
“It is important for the ministers and the secretaries of state to discuss an action plan for the next two years to strengthen women’s position,” she said.
She also said it was important to support women to run their business and educate them on reproductive health issues in order to combat mother child and maternal mortality rates in member countries.
She said the Portuguese and Timorese governments had a history of collaboration, particularly in the education sector.
Portugal has provided support to open a reference school, as well as vocational training for teachers and training in sexual health to health professionals.
The CPLP is an intergovernmental organization that promotes cooperation among Portuguese-speaking countries.
