Timor-Leste celebrates International Women’s Day with a morning cycle and an evening of the arts

Author: Felix Maia

Gathering in front of the Government Palace early on a Saturday morning, a crowd of more than 150 cyclists of all ages and backgrounds, including people with disabilities, top professional cyclists, representatives of Government, civil society, UN and development partners, among others came out to support the call for a Planet 50-50.

Photo: UN Women/Felix Maia

Taking the celebration of International Women’s Day to the streets and through the arts, UN Women Timor-Leste organized the “Cycle for Gender Equality and Sustainable Development” and an evening of literary art performances in the nation’s capital Dili. The events expanded collaboration beyond existing gender equality partners, and involved the NGO Association of Men Against Violence (AMKV), the Dili Cycling bicycle club, a popular Restaurant, a telecommunications company and support from individual advocates, including Timorese women resistance activists, novelists and professional writers in Dili, among others.

As a police escort cleared the road for the cyclists, people stepped out from their homes and shops to watch the group pass by. The event came to a close at a popular park in the city center, where cyclists met Zumba dancers leading a collective dance to Break the Chain and community members sharing messages on what “Planet 50:50 by 2030” means to them. Referring to the many existing commitments to gender equality the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport Leovigildo da Costa Hornai, underlined that speeches alone wouldn’t be sufficient, “(we) men must demonstrate through actions—starting from within the home”. This call was reaffirmed through messages from the UN Resident Coordinator, Knut Ostby, representatives of the Secretary of State for the Support and Socio-economic Promotion of Women, the Youth Parliament, AMKV and the President of the Board of the National Women's Network. Reflecting on women’s low representation in institutional leadership and decision-making, Judite Ximenes asked the audience, “when women and men both have the same potential, why are only men moving forward?”

Exploring this question and more, a diverse repertoire of 17 women and men shared their reflections on gender equality in an event called “Make it Right Write”. Hosted at the popular Café Kakau, the restaurant overflowed with more than 70 people eager to hear the stories being shared, from a young woman’s letter written to Darkness, a personal narrative on womanhood, and a tribute to a mothers and survivors of domestic violence.

“I am strong, I am free, I am independent, I am me,” Katherine Smith, cried out proudly and met with thunderous applause from the audience.

Photo Gallery