The funding would help achieve a national goal to improve gender equality and support women’s rights set more than a decade ago.

“If the woman is strong then the nation becomes strong too,” Lu Olo told attendees at the National Women’s Day event on Wednesday.

Lu Olo also commented on the wretched situation of three women the Independente featured in stories published from 5 October.

"The people of Timor-Leste have not obtained freedom if those three of woman are in still in a difficult life,” Lu Olo said.

The President of Timor-Leste Women’s Rights Forum Rede Feta Zeilia Fernandes said that supporting women become financially sustainable and fulfill their own destiny was important to women’s freedoms.

Just 20% of women in Timor-Leste are paid for their labour, according to data from International Women’s Development Agency.