• Timor-Leste is a small island nation, it is a newly independent country with semi presidential system. It gained independence through United Nations sponsored referendum in 1999 through an overwhelming votes for self determination by Timorese people to be separated from Indonesia that lead to 20 May 2002 restoration of Independence as Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (RDTL as declared unilaterally by Fretilin in 1974 after Portuguese colony left the island state). Women has been fighting in the forefront of the country’s resistance movement and that implied into most of the country’s policy on overall women empowerment in the country’s development as a nation. The initiative of Women in Maritime Association of Timor-Leste is to continue the struggle on Timorese women in the careers of maritime sector through training, education and advocacy. And so WIMA TL core members are all women officers in maritime transport, the port and maritime policy, navy and new Maritime authority officers. Some members are from various NGOs, academics who are passionate about Timorese marine environment within Coral Triangle region and women policy advocates as well as all Timorese women seafarers.

• From hereon, WIMA Timor-Leste extends its gratitude and appreciation to the IMO Gender integration in Maritime sector, WIMA Asia GC members, WIMA-Phil, MyWima, PacWima, UN-Women, CTI Women Leaders Forum, UN-FAO, Timorese Secretary of State for Gender & Equality, Ministry of Transports & Communications, DFAT Australia in Dili, GIZ-ATMI of German cooperation and partners from DLA Piper of Australia, Central of International Law from the University of Singapore and the Charles Darwin University of Australia, for all assistance received through training & capacity building for Timorese women in Maritime sector over the past years and we look forward to work with you and others in developing the maritime sector into the future.

Timor-Leste at WIMA Asia Conference in Manila 2015

After the conference, WIMA TL advocate circular below for Timorese Passenger Ship Safety Information for Timor-Leste

WIMA TL attending PacWima conference in Tonga

Following the Manila WIMA Asia Conference, the Timorese Women in Maritime took initiative to register its association at the Notary office of the Ministry of Justice and stand as WIMA Timor Leste

in the year 2016

WIMA Timor-Leste inaugural ceremony supported by GIZ-ATMI and Maritime Transport Department in 2016.

WIMA TL President Mrs. Adelina Andrade on field trip activity of reducing plastic usage on board ship in Timor-Leste

WIMA TL activity on SDG 5 & 14 civic education to local leaders in Atauro Island of Timor-Leste.

In 2017 - Timor-Leste hosted WIMA Asia Regional Conference in Dili supported by the IMO and Government of Timor-Leste (Secretary General & President of Gender working Group & Vice Minister of Transport on this picture with President of WIMA Asia)

WIMA TL at 2017 WIMA Asia conference picture

WIMA Asia GC Swearing In ceremony in 2017 in Dili, Timor-Leste at Ministry of Finance building.

WIMA TL coordination meeting with Secretary of State for Gender & Equality madam Maria Jose Fonseca in the year 2018

WIMA TL members from the Maritime Authority officials

WIMA TL meeting the Secretary of State of Gender and Equality, Government of Timor-Leste

WIMA TL consultation meeting with the Secretary of State of Gender and Equality, Government of Timor-Leste in 2018

WIMA TL Activities

WIMA TL attending Gender budgeting conference in 2019 in Dili, Timor-Leste

WIMA TL presenting at Regional CTI Conference on Women Leaders Forum in 2019 in Dili, TL

WIMA TL participate WIMA Asia regional conference, photo with WISTA Singapore President with Korean Maritime Professor and Malaysian MyWIMA members

WIMA TL and the IMO Technical capacity building on adoption of the STCW Convention meeting at Maritime Transport directorate of the Ministry of Transports and Communications supported by the GIZ-ATMI teams

WIMA TL Activities – mostly related on the ISLME TDA and review work and the MEPSEAS on implementation of the IMO Conventions in Timor-Leste

• in the year 2021

WIMA Timor-Leste trip to Atauro