Women in Leadership and Diplomacy Forum 2025: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.
Dili, Timor-Leste – This evening, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Secretariat of State for Equality, and UN Women jointly hosted the “Women in Leadership and Diplomacy Forum”. The event convened current and emerging women leaders from diverse sectors, providing a platform to discuss, inspire, and amplify the voices of women in leadership. The forum featured a dynamic dialogue among women leaders that fostered connections and collaborations.
The Forum celebrated the remarkable contributions of women to sustainable development and peace both globally and in Timor-Leste. It aimed to inspire transformative change by addressing structural barriers and gender-based discrimination that impede progress toward gender equality. By sharing stories of success and resilience, the event sought to encourage greater participation of Timorese women in leadership and decision-making roles, particularly in politics, diplomacy, peace, and security.
The President of Commission F of the National Parliament, Her Excellency Maria Gorumali Barreto, who spoke as a panelist, highlighted specific examples of women’s leadership driving significant positive changes. “In Timor-Leste, women leaders have played a critical role in advancing peace and development—whether through spearheading community health initiatives, strengthening education systems, or advocating for social security reforms. These stories of success must be told to inspire and empower more women to take on leadership roles. By celebrating these achievements, we demonstrate that women’s leadership is not only impactful but crucial for our collective progress as a nation,” said Her Excellency Ms. Barreto.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperations, His Excellency Bendito dos Santos Freitas said, “As the world advances toward a more inclusive future, the “Women in Leadership and Diplomacy Forum” stands as a testament to the power of collective effort in dismantling barriers, empowering women, and fostering transformative pathways for leadership and diplomacy.”
Since 2023, the annual “Women in Leadership and Diplomacy Forum” had provided opportunities for dialogue and engagement among state actors and women leaders from diverse backgrounds. Building on its success, this year’s event highlighted the ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration and inspiring the next generation of leaders.”
In her opening remarks, Her Excellency Elvina Sousa Carvalho, the Secretary of State for Equality, emphasized the critical role of women in shaping Timor-Leste’s future. “Women have been at the forefront of our nation’s history and development. This Forum is a vital platform to recognize their achievements, address the persistent challenges they face, and ensure they have equal opportunities to lead and contribute to Timor-Leste’s growth. By empowering women, we are building a more inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful society,” said S.E. Carvalho.
In the panel dialogue, Hon. Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific) for the United Kingdom, who is visiting Timor-Leste as part of her tour to ASEAN countries, emphasized the importance of these events in promoting gender equality.
The Forum is part of a broader initiative supported by the Regional Project Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: Preventing Violence and Promoting Social Cohesion in ASEAN, generously funded by the Governments of Canada, Korea, and the United Kingdom. This project provides vital support to ASEAN Member States and Observer State Timor-Leste in advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in the region, encouraging meaningful participation and representation of women in peace and security sectors.
UN Women Representative in Timor-Leste, Ms. Nishtha Satyam, who moderated the High-Level dialogue, emphasized the importance of creating spaces for solidarity among women leaders. “Creating platforms and spaces where women leaders can exchange informal notes and foster meaningful connections goes a long way in cementing solidarity between women leaders. Acknowledging the shared nature of their struggles may strengthen their collective resolve to push boundaries and dismantle barriers to leadership,” said Ms. Satyam.
Beyond the Forum, annual training workshops and capacity-building activities organized jointly by UN Women, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the line ministries continue to equip women leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to address gender and development issues effectively. These efforts also focus on localizing the WPS agenda to ensure its relevance and impact in Timor-Leste.
The Women in Leadership and Diplomacy Forum advances women’s leadership and promotes gender-responsive governance in Timor-Leste, contributing to the implementation of Timor-Leste’s national priorities in line with the 2023 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Concluding Observations, National Action Plan 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2024-2028), National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence (NAP GBV) (2022-2032), Maubisse Declaration (2018-2022), and other national policies promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Felix Maia, Communications Analyst
felix.maia@unwomen.org
(670) 7715 0812
