Launch of Gender Strategy of National Police of Timor-Leste 2024-2028

In February 2024, the Government of Timor-Leste, with UN Women’s support, has officially launched the second-generation National Action Plan (2024-2028) for implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (“NAP 1325”). The NAP 1325, spanning five years, serves as a holistic and multi-stakeholder national strategy to ensure that gender equality and women’s leadership is integral to every aspect of conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery, and humanitarian response in Timor-Leste. 

Recognizing the vital roles of Timorese women in peacebuilding and sustainable development, the NAP 1325 (2024-2028) seeks to promote women’s full, meaningful and equal participation and leadership in peace and security, and community conflict prevention and resolution, disaster and humanitarian response, and to expand the contours of women’s roles in decision making in the security and justice sectors, and to all levels of governance, given that these are factors seminal for a more effective and sustainable recovery phase in the process of peacebuilding.  

As the National Police of Timor-Leste stands as a key actor implementing the four major pillars of the NAP 1325 (participation, prevention, protection and peacebuilding), it is fully committed to promoting gender equality and women’s leadership within the institution, and enhancing policing services in respond to the security needs of women and girls in Timor-Leste.  

The ‘Strategy Plan of the National Police of Timor-Leste (2023-2030)’ envisions a transformative change in policing. The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) strives to maintain peace, security and stability in Timor-Leste by upholding the rule of law and providing professional, inclusive and gender-responsive services to protect the rights and freedoms of all individuals across the nation.  

The PNTL, with UN Women’s support, developed and finalized the second-generation Gender Strategy (2024-2028), which will serve as a core commitment of the PNTL, placing gender equality at the forefront of the organizational missions and aligning seamlessly with the overarching strategic goals set forth in the Strategy Plan of the PNTL (2023-2030).  

Under the second generation of the Gender Strategy (2024-2028), the PNTL will strengthen strategic interventions to address barriers to the promotion and recruitment of female police officers and advance women’s empowerment and representation within the security force. The Gender Strategy will aim to promote targeted, systematic and sustained investments in strengthening sexual harassment and abuse prevention and response mechanisms, in implementing trainings and dialogues to promote transformative attitudes and norms towards gender equality within the institution, and in providing gender-responsive policing services to meet women’s and men’s distinct security needs.  

The PNTL Gender Strategy (2024-2028) is developed in alignment with the Programme of the IX Constitutional Government, the ‘PNTL Strategic Plan 2014-2018’, ‘NAP 1325’ and the ‘National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence’ (NAP GBV). The PNTL reinforces its dedication to promoting services that meet the security needs of women and men in Timor-Leste, promote equal opportunities and foster inclusive institutional participation within the PNTL. It also aligns with Timor-Leste’s national commitments to implement international framework obligations, including those in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325).  

Objectives of Launch of the PNTL Gender Strategy (2024-2028) 

As this year (2024) marks the 25th Anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and as Timor-Leste commemorates the National Women’s Day in November, the Ministry of Interior and National Police of Timor-Leste, in partnership with UN Women, will officially launch the PNTL Gender Strategy (2024-2028). The launch ceremony will take place on 6 October 2024, bringing together around 500 police officers, including all heads of departments and sections in Headquarter and from municipalities, and municipal commanders, and Gender Focal Points from all municipalities.