The Timor-Leste Parliamentary Women’s Group (GMPTL) said some political parties have made no effort to promote women in politics.
GMPTL President MP Florentina Smith said some political parties still regarded politics as a male domain.
“The political parties are the important pillars in implementing democracy by providing space for women to take a part in development through their participation in the election,’ she said at a workshop on strengthening women’s participation in the upcoming elections at Fatuhada, Dili.
She called on political parties to consider women’s concerns as a priority at government level, adding it was important to promote women’s participation in politics so that they could contribute to the national development process.
She also called on political parties to provide training to potential female leaders and promote them in the nominations list.
“[We must] empower women in the family, communities, society and the country, therefore the political parties, civil society and all entities have a huge responsibility to provide training for women [in politics],” she said.
As a woman involved in politics, she encouraged other women to continue learning and to have the self-confidence to compete with the men in high positions, even though it was not always easy.
Although Timor-Leste has a higher percentage of women involved in politics at the national level in comparison to other ASEAN countries, Smith said more still needed to be done to improve participation at the local level.
Meanwhile, the General-Secretary of the Democratic Party (PD), Mariano Asanami Sabino, said his party was committed to promoting women to high positions.
He said PD currently held eight positions in Parliament, consisting of four women and four men.
“Our dream is that one day a woman will be the President and the Prime Minister so that they can make good decisions for their children, because we are men and are always in a hurry when making decisions,” he said.
He said parties should have the political school for members to improve their abilities, but it did not exist yet.
Deputy General-Secretary of the Fretilin Party Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares said Fretilin was established in 1974 and since then had struggled for women’s emancipation through the Popular Organization of Timorese Women (OPMT).
She said women’s involvement in politics should be a national priority issue for all political parties.
