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Individuals and organizations who are championing the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Asia and the Pacific are being profiled by UN Women – online and in our 2025 desktop calendar – to mark the agenda’s 25^th anniversary.

Assistant Superintendent Maria Fatima Jesus Carvalho Martins of the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL) joined the police service in 2000 with a simple yet powerful belief that policing was not just about upholding the law but about transforming society. Born and raised in the Ermera Municipality during a period of conflict in Timor-Leste, Maria chose to forge her path in a profession traditionally dominated by men.

After graduating from Police College, she completed her detective training and worked in various functions within PNTL, including investigations, undercover policing, forensics and the prosecutor’s office. This gave her a bird’s eye view of the police system and deep insights into the challenges the system posed for women.

Maria went on to serve as a UN peacekeeper in Kosovo and South Sudan, and today, is Chief of PNTL’s Gender Equality and Inclusion Cabinet.

What challenges did you face as one of the first women to join the police service in your country?

“As a woman wanting to become a police officer, I often faced challenges related to gender stereotypes, including doubts about my skill, not being taken seriously by colleagues and the public, and sometimes even overt discrimination. However, I overcame these by proving my competence through hard work and dedication to training, and by actively seeking mentorship from senior officers, both male and female, who supported my career progression.

The resistance was strong at times, but my determination was stronger. Slowly, the culture within the force began to evolve, with more officers recognizing that gender equality was not just about fairness, it was about building a stronger, more effective police force.”

Ensuring women’s equal participation and promoting gender equality in peace and security decision-making processes at all levels is a key pillar of the global Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

From 2005 to 2007, Maria served with the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as an advisor to local police where she witnessed first-hand the complexities of post-conflict policing.

Years later, from 2020 to 2022, she joined the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), with its mandate on civilian protection and peace restoration, where the realities of war-torn communities deepened her understanding of law enforcement.

Why did you become a UN peacekeeper?

“I wanted to actively contribute to global peace by protecting civilians, supporting conflict resolution in war-torn areas and helping communities transition from conflict to stability. I was motivated by a strong desire to make a positive difference in the world and serve a greater cause, even if it meant facing challenging and dangerous situations.

I believe my childhood gave me a different perspective when I served in those peacekeeping missions. I know what it’s like when today, we stay, and tomorrow, we run and hide.”

“Policies alone won’t bring change. Mindsets must shift.”

As the Chief of the Gender Equality and Inclusion Cabinet, Maria has been determined to change the narrative that despite more women donning the police uniform, they remain under-represented at the decision-making level in Timor-Leste.

With the technical support of UN Women under an ASEAN regional project, she has actively advocated for policies that have not only increased women’s participation in the force but also ensured they are increasingly integral to decision-making processes.

Maria has helmed the development of the second-generation PNTL Gender Strategy, an initiative aimed at breaking down institutional barriers and creating a path for women in law enforcement to rise to leadership roles, as well as promoting gender-responsive services that respond to the security needs of women and girls.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Henrique da Costa M. Si, Commander General, PNTL, the Gender Strategy was officially adopted in November 2024. The strategy aligns with the PNTL’s Decree Laws and broader Strategic Plan, as well as the country’s second National Action Plan 1325 on Women, Peace and Security 2024-2028 (NAP 1325) centred on promoting women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts to build sustainable peace.

What is needed to create an inclusive and enabling environment for women in the police force?

“The most crucial element is addressing and actively changing deeply ingrained social norms and gender stereotypes within the police culture, as these often present the most significant barriers to women's advancement and participation, even when supportive policies are in place.

Policies alone won’t bring change. Mindsets must shift. This requires a multi-faceted approach including policy changes, capacity building initiatives, and targeted training to challenge biased attitudes.”

Maria’s experiences shaped her belief that policing was not just about maintaining order, more so in post-conflict Timor-Leste, it was also about reforming the system to better address the needs of women in communities and achieving gender equality within the police force itself.

Have you engaged men and boys in your efforts to advance women’s leadership in the police?

“Yes, because engaging men and boys in initiatives to advance women's leadership is crucial. While it can be challenging, there are many successful cases where male allies have played a vital role in promoting gender equality within police departments by actively participating in training, mentorship programmes, and advocating for policy changes that support women officers' career progression.

“This can involve highlighting unconscious bias, creating inclusive work environments and challenging harmful stereotypes about masculinity within the police culture.”

Maria has introduced sharing sessions and dialogues with women officers to support their peers, ensuring they have the guidance and encouragement she once wished for.

Maria’s promotion to Assistant Superintendent was a recognition of years of her tireless dedication, resilience and commitment. In a country where every step forward for women is a battle won, she stands as proof that change is possible—not just through words or policies, but through action, persistence, and the unwavering belief that equality is not a privilege, but a right.

 

Perfil Kampeaun ba Feto, Pás no Seguransa: Superintendente Asistente. Maria Fatima Martins

Data: Loron-Segunda, 12 Maiu 2025

Ema individuál no organizasaun sira ne'ebé luta hodi promove ajenda Feto, Pás no Seguransa iha Ázia no Pasífiku nian ne’eperfi husi UN Women - online no iha ami nia kalendáriu desktop 2025 - hodi marka aniversáriu ba dala 25 husi ajenda ne’e.

Superintendente Asistente Maria Fatima Jesus Carvalho Martins husi Polísia Nasionál Timor-Leste (PNTL) tama iha servisu polísia nian iha tinan 2000 ho fiar ida ne’ebé simples maibé forte tebes katak servisu polisiamentu nian la’ós de’it atu tane aas lei maibé atu transforma sosiedade. Moris no boot iha Munisípiu Ermera durante períodu konflitu iha Timor-Leste, Maria hili atu foti nia dalan iha profisaun ida ne’ebé tradisionalmente domina husi mane sira.

Hafoin gradua husi Akademia/Koléjiu Polísia nian, nia kompleta nia formasaun detetive no asume knaar iha funsaun oioin iha PNTL nia laran, inklui investigasaun, ajente polísia sekreta, forense no iha gabinete prokuradoria. Ida-ne'e fó vista jerál ida ba nia kona-ba sistema polisiamentu nian no hanoin kle'an kona-ba dezafiu sira ne'ebé sistema ne'e hamosu ba feto sira.

Maria kontinua hodi serbí nu'udar ajente manutensaun pás ONU nian iha Kosovo no Sudaun Súl, no ohin loron, nu'udar Xefe Gabinete Igualdade Jéneru no Inkluzaun PNTL nian.

Dezafiu saida mak ita-boot hasoru nu'udar feto ida entre feto sira dahuluk ne'ebé tama iha servisu polísia nian iha ita-boot nia rain?

“Nu’udar feto ida ne’ebé hakarak sai ajente polísia, dala barak ha’u hasoru dezafiu sira relasiona ho estereótipu jéneru, inklui dúvida kona-ba hau-nia abilidade, ladún hetan konsiderasaun sériu husi kolega sira no públiku, no dalaruma mós diskriminasaun ne’ebé hatudu ho momoos. Maibé, hau ultrapasa buat sira-ne’e hodi prova hau-nia kompeténsia liuhusi servisu maka’as no dedikasaun ba formasaun, no hodi buka ho ativu mentoria husi ofisiál superiór sira, tantu mane no feto sira, ne'ebé apoia progresu iha hau-nia kareira.

Dala ruma iha rezisténsia maka'as, maibé ha’u-nia determinasaun mak forte liu. Neineik, kultura iha forsa ne’e nia laran hahú iha evolusaun, iha-ne’ebé ofisiál barak liután mak rekoñese katak igualdade jéneru la'ós de'it kona-ba justisa, maibé kona-ba harii forsa polísia ida ne'ebé forte liu no efetivu liu.”

Asegura feto sira-nia partisipasaun ne’ebé hanesan no promove igualdade jéneru iha prosesu foti desizaun kona-ba pás no seguransa iha nivel hotu-hotu nu’udar pilar xave ida husi ajenda globál Feto, Pás no Seguransa (FPS).

Husi tinan 2005 to’o 2007, Maria serbí iha Misaun Administrasaun Interina ONU nian iha Kosovo (UNMIK) nu’udar asesora ida ba polísia lokál iha-ne’ebé nia rasik sai sasin ba kompleksidade sira husi polisiamentu pós-konflitu nian.

Tinan barak liutiha, husi 2020 to'o 2022, nia tama iha Misaun ONU nian iha Sudaun Súl (UNMISS), ho ninia mandatu kona-ba protesaun sivíl no restaurasaun pás nian, iha-ne'ebé realidade sira husi komunidade sira ne'ebé hetan destruisaun husi funu ne’e hakle’an liutan ninia komprensaun kona-ba manutensaun ba lei no orden.

Tanbasá mak ita-boot hola parte iha forsa manutensaun pás ONU nian?

“Ha’u hakarak kontribui ho ativu ba pás globál liuhusi proteje ema sivíl sira, apoia rezolusaun konflitu iha área sira ne’ebé hetan funu no ajuda komunidade sira halo tranzisaun husi konflitu ba estabilidade. Hau hetan motivasaun husi dezeju maka’as atu halo diferensa pozitivu iha mundu no serbí kauza ida ne’ebé boot liu, maski ida-ne’e signifika hasoru situasaun sira ne’ebé dezafiante no perigozu.

Ha’u fiar katak hau-nia tempu infánsia fó mai ha’u perspetiva ida ne'ebé diferente bainhira ha’u ba serbí iha misaun manutensaun pás nian sira-ne'e. Ha’u hatene oinsá bainhira ohin loron, ita hela, no aban, ita halai tiha no subar."

"Polítika sira-ne’e mesak de’it mós sei la lori mudansa. Mentalidade mak tenki muda."

Nu’udar Xefe Gabinete Igualdade Jéneru no Inkluzaun, Maria iha ona determinasaun atu muda narrativa katak maski feto barak liu hatais farda polísia nian, sira nafatin menus-reprezentadu iha nivel foti desizaun nian iha Timor-Leste.

Ho apoiu tékniku husi UN Women iha ámbitu projetu rejionál ASEAN nian, nia halo advokasia ativamente ba polítika sira ne'ebé la'ós de'it aumenta feto sira-nia partisipasaun iha forsa nia laran maibé mós garante katak sira sai parte integrál ba prosesu sira foti desizaun nian.

Maria dirije ona dezenvolvimentu ba Estratéjia Jéneru PNTL jerasaun daruak nian, inisiativa ida ne’ebé ho objetivu atu harahun barreira institusionál sira no kria dalan ida ba feto sira iha manutensaun lei no orden atu hakat sa’e ba iha papél lideransa nian, no mós promove servisu sira ne’ebé sensível ba jéneru ne’ebé responde ba nesesidade seguransa husi feto no labarik-feto sira-nian.

Iha lideransa Komisáriu Henrique da Costa M. Si, Komandante Jerál, PNTL, Estratéjia Jéneru nian adota ofisialmente iha fulan-Novembru 2024. Estratéjia ne’e aliña ho PNTL nia Dekretu Lei sira no Planu Estratéjiku ne’ebé luan liutan, no mós nasaun ne’e ninia Planu Asaun Nasionál 1325 jerasaun daruak kona-ba Feto, Pás no Seguransa 2024-2028 (PAN 1325) ne’ebé sentradu iha promosaun ba feto sira-nia partisipasaun ne’ebé hanesan no envolvimentu tomak iha esforsu hotu-hotu atu harii pás ne’ebé sustentável.

Saida mak presiza hodi bele kria ambiente ida ne'ebé inkluzivu no favorável ba feto sira iha forsa polísia?

“Elementu ne'ebé krusiál liu mak atu aborda no muda ho ativu norma sosiál sira no estereótipu jéneru nian ne'ebé kuda-metin ona iha kultura polísia nian, tanba sira-ne'e mak dalabarak aprezenta barreira sira ne'ebé signifikativu liu ba feto sira-nia avansu no partisipasaun, maski iha ona polítika sira ne'ebé fó apoiu ba ida-ne’e atu akontese.

Polítika sira-ne’e mesak de’it mós sei la lori mudansa. Mentalidade sira mak tenki muda. Ida-ne'e presiza aprosimasaun ida multi-fasetada inklui mudansa iha polítika sira, inisiativa sira ba kapasitasaun nian, no formasaun sira destinada hodi dezafia atitude sira ne'ebé tendensioza.”

Maria nia esperiénsia sira mak forma ona ninia fiar katak polisiamentu la’ós de’it kona-ba mantein orden, liuliu iha Timor-Leste pós-konflitu, ida-ne’e mós kona-ba reforma iha sistema hodi hatán di’ak liután ba feto sira-nia nesesidade iha komunidade nia leet no alkansa igualdade jéneru iha forsa polísia nia laran rasik.

Ita-boot envolve ona mane no labarik-mane sira iha Ita-boot nia esforsu sira atu avansa ho lideransa feto nian iha polísia nia laran?

“Sin, tanba kurisál duni atu envolve mane no labarik-mane sira iha inisiativa sira ne’ebé atu avansa lideransa feto nian. Enkuantu ida-ne’e bele sai dezafiu, maibé iha kazu barak ne’ebé hetan susesu iha-ne’ebé aliadu mane sira hala’o ona knaar ida vital hodi promove igualdade jéneru iha departamentu sira iha polísia nia laran liuhusi partisipa ativamente iha formasaun, programa sira mentoria nian, no halo advokasia ba mudansa polítika sira ne’ebé fó apoiu ba progresu iha kareira ba ofisiál feto sira-nian.

"Ida-ne'e bele envolve salienta kona-ba prekonseitu inkonsiente, kria ambiente serbisu ne’ebé inkluzivu no dezafia estereótipu aat ka negativu sira kona-ba maskulinidade iha kultura polísia nian."

Maria introdús ona sesaun fahe hanoin no diálogu ho ofisiál feto sira hodi apoia sira-nia feto-maluk sira, hodi asegura katak sira iha orientasaun no enkorajamentu ne'ebé uluk nia la konsege hetan.

Maria nia promosaun ba Superintendente Asistente ne’e hanesan rekoñesimentu ida ba ninia dedikasaun, reziliénsia no kompromisu iha tinan barak nia laran ne'ebé lahatene kolen. Iha nasaun ida ne'ebé mak kada pasu ne’ebé feto sira foti hodi hakat ba oin ne’e hanesan funu ida ne'ebé konsege konkista, nia hamriik hanesan prova katak mudansa ne'e posivel—la'ós de'it liuhusi liafuan ka polítika sira, maibé liuhusi asaun, persisténsia, no fiar-metin katak igualdade la'ós nu’udar priviléjiu ida, maibé hanesan direitu ida.

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