10 Dezembru 2007
Timor-Leste sente orgullu hodi hola parte iha rai balun deit iha mundu ne’e, nebe ratifika hotu kedas ona konvensaun internasional hitu ba Direitu Humanu.
Ita adere ba konvensaun sira ne’e ba promosaun no mos ba defeza ema sira nian, ita aprezenta tiha ona relatóriu substansial ida, nebe kumpri tuir dispozitivus nebe previstu tiha ona iha konvensaun sira ne’e, no ita mos iha ona relatóriu ba dala rua nebe prontu no aprovadu ona, nebe ita sei hatan ba Nasoes Unidas iha tempu badak mai.
Desizaun nebe hola tiha ona iha 2002, husi Estadu Timor, atu tuir onvensaun hitu ne’e mai husi ita nia konviksaun nebe respeitu Direitus Humanus no valor husi Direitus Humanus iha konstrusan sosiedade ida ho Justisa.
Desizaun husi ita nia Estadu atu moris husi respeitu ba valores Liberdade, Igualdade no ba Justisa, respeitu ida ke iha abut ba ita nia istória luta ba libertasaun no ba direitus Timor oan sira nian.
Hau halo hotu ona no sei kontinua atu halo nafatin – hanesan Prezidente no mos hanesan sidadaun ida – atu bele hakat liu difikuldade nebe ita nia Nasaun iha atu tenki kumpri obrigasaun hotu hotu kona-ba konvensaun Direitus Humanus.
Hanesan Prezidente no sidadaun simples ida iha Timor-Leste hau sente orgullu atu bele kontribui atu hari’i hau nia rai bazeia ba respeitu ba direitus hotu hotu, liberdade no mos ba garantia ba sidadaun sira. Atu ajuda hari’i rai ida nebe bazeia ba respeitu direitu moris no mos ba dignidade ema ne’e nian, no rekuza ba pena de morte, ba prizaun perpétua no ba formas violensia sira seluk husi Estadu kontra nia siadadun rasik.
Hau sente katak liu husi tinan 20 resin nebe ita luta no ita rezisti – iha perigu nebe boot liu no ho violensia nebe boot liu – sakrifisiu nebe vale, wainhira ita hari’i dadaun rai ida bazeia ba Liberdade, Igualdade no Direitu Moris no Dame.
Hau sente satisfasaun ida wainhira hari’i ita nia rai bazeia ba igualdade direitus entre mane ho feto, igualdade sidadaun iha lei nia oin, iha promosaun direitu labarik nian – ita nia sidadaun iha futuru.
Maibe hau mos hatene katak ita persiza tempu barak hodi fo garantia ba Direitus Humanus iha Timor-Leste.
Hari’i dadaun iha ruína nebe ema husik hela ba ita iha 1999, ita nia Estadu jovem bazeia ba Direitu no mos ba liberdade sivil no polítika, sem dúvida.
Maibe sei falta atu realiza direitu sosial no direitu ekonomiku barak.
Seidauk tan ita tenki halo hotu situasaun ida nebe todan liu tan hanesan kiak.
Ita sei falta atu halo konsolidasaun no estabilidade no dame. Ita sei falta atu fo garantia ba atmosfera konfiansa, atu bele dada emprezáriu sira, hodi bele ajuda kria barak liu tan empregu, liu liu ba sira nebe foin sa’e, no mos atu bele ajuda kria moris diak ba ema hotu hotu.
Loron-loron Ita mos tenke hari’i igualdade direitu ida ke boot liu entre mane ho feto. Ita mos tenke kombate violênsia doméstika. Ita tenki garante ita nia labarik oan sira nia edukasaun ida nebe diak liu tan, no direitu ba edukasaun sem violênsia.
Ita tenki servisu atu bele fo ita nia labaraik oan sira no ba ita nia foin sa’e sira oportunidade dezenvolvimentu ekilibradu barak liu tan no mos ba promosaun ekonómika no sosial.
Iha loron Direitus Humanus ne’e, hau husu ba povu Timor-Leste, ba mane no feto sira, ba profesor sira, ba foin sa’e sira, atu bele fo, loron loron, imi nia kontribuisaun husi imi nia ezemplu nebe diak, atu bele rejeita violênsia.
Hau hakarak husu ba povu atu bele kontribui, iha aldeia, iha eskola, iha merkadu, iha familia nia let, iha sirkunstânsias hotu hotu, ba vida ida ke trankuila no la iha violênsia iha imi nia komunidade laran.
Respeita diak liu tan Direitus Humanus iha ita nia rai laran, hanesan servisu ida ke labele sai governu nian deit. Nia hanesan Governu nia dever, maibe hanesan mos dever ba povu hotu hotu. Ita so bele hadian ita nia rai nia vida diak liu tan, liu husi ajuda husi parte hotu hotu.
Hanesan Presidente da República hau reafirma kompromisu sagradu atu hala’o knar ba hau nia mandatu, iha hau nia vida hanesan sidadaun simples ida, hau sei kontinua hodi halo esforsu hotu, hodi bele promove respeitu ba Direitus Humanus, inklui mos direitus ekonómiko, sosial no kultural, ba Timor oan tomak.
Hau sei konta ho imi nia ajuda, ha hafoun fila fali hau nia kompromisu atu servisu sem deskansu atu bele iha fim ba violência, ba dame, be eliminasaun Pobreza. Atu konstrui Nasaun livre husi Kiak sei sai difísil liu knar ida ke difisil liu iha area Direitus Humanus.
Atu konstrui nasaun ida livre husi kiak no nasaun ida ho dame no trankilidade sei sai objektivu atu ita hetan: hanesan eransa nebe, ho firmeza no ho servisu, ita bele husik hela ba ita nia oan sira nia jerasaun.
Ba ida ne’e, ita tenki servisu hamutuk atu halo Timor-Leste sai Nasaun ida ke diak liu tan.
Monday, December 10, 2007
MENSAGEM DO PRESIDENTE DA REPÚBLICA NO DIA INTERNACIONAL DOS DIREITOS HUMANOS
10 de Dezembro de 2007
Timor-Leste sente orgulho por ser um dos poucos países no Mundo que ratificou todas as sete convenções internacionais de Direitos Humanos.
Aderimos a essas convenções de promoção e de defesa dos direitos das pessoas, já apresentámos um relatório substancial, cumprindo dispositivos previstos nas convenções, e temos já um segundo relatório pronto e aprovado, que será submetido em breve às Nações Unidas.
A decisão tomada em 2002, pelo Estado timorense, de subscrever essas sete convenções resultou das nossas convicções de respeito pelos Direitos Humanos e do valor dos Direitos Humanos na construção de uma sociedade com Justiça.
A decisão do nosso Estado nasceu do respeito pelos valores da Liberdade, da Igualdade e da Justiça, um respeito que tem raiz na história da luta pela libertação e pelos direitos dos timorenses.
Eu tenho feito tudo e tudo continuarei a fazer – como presidente e como cidadão – para ultrapassar as dificuldades que a nossa Nação ainda tem para cumprir todas as obrigações das convenções dos Direitos Humanos.
Como Presidente e como simples cidadão de Timor-Leste sinto orgulho por contribuir para construir o meu país baseado no respeito pelos direitos, pelas liberdades e pelas garantias dos cidadãos. Por ajudar a construir um país baseado no respeito pelo Direito à vida e pela dignidade das pessoas, na recusa da pena de morte, da prisão perpétua e de outras formas de violência do Estado contra os cidadãos.
Sinto que os mais de 20 anos que lutámos e que resistimos – no meio dos maiores perigos e da maior violência – valeram o sacrifício, quando estamos a construir um país baseado na Liberdade, na Igualdade e no Direito à Vida e à Paz.
Sinto satisfação por construir a nossa Nação baseada na igualdade de direitos entre homens e mulheres, na igualdade dos cidadãos face à lei, na promoção dos direitos das crianças – os nossos cidadãos do futuro.
Mas também sei que ainda estamos longe de terminar este trabalho de garantir os Direitos Humanos em Timor-Leste.
Construído sobre as ruínas que nos deixaram em 1999, o nosso jovem Estado é baseado no Direito e nas liberdades civis e políticas, sem dúvida.
Mas falta ainda realizar muitos direitos sociais e direitos económicos.
Falta-nos ainda acabar com as situações mais graves de pobreza.
Falta-nos consolidar a estabilidade e a paz. Falta-nos ainda garantir uma atmosfera de confiança, para atrair os empresários, para ajudar a criar mais empregos, sobretudo para os mais jovens, e para ajudar a criar mais bem-estar para todos.
Temos também de construir - todos os dias - uma maior igualdade de direitos entre os homens e as mulheres. Temos de combater – todos os dias – a violência doméstica. Temos de garantir às nossas crianças uma educação melhor, e o direito a uma educação sem violência.
Temos de trabalhar para dar às nossas crianças e aos nossos jovens mais oportunidades de desenvolvimento equilibrado e de promoção económica e social.
No Dia dos Direitos Humanos, peço ao povo de Timor-Leste, aos homens e às mulheres, aos professores e professoras, aos jovens, para darem, todos os dias, o contributo do seu bom exemplo, para rejeitar a violência.
Quero pedir ao povo para contribuir, nas aldeias, nas escolas, nos mercados, nas famílias, em todas as circunstâncias, para uma vida tranquila e sem violência nas suas comunidades.
Respeitar melhor os Direitos Humanos no nosso país é um trabalho que não pode ser só do governo. É um dever do Governo, mas é também um dever de todo o povo. Só com a ajuda de todos podemos melhorar a vida do nosso país.
Como Presidente da República reafirmo o compromisso sagrado de, no exercício do meu mandato, assim como na minha vida de simples cidadão, continuar a fazer tudo para promover o respeito pelos Direitos Humanos, incluindo os direitos económicos, sociais e culturais, de todos os timorenses.
Contando com a vossa ajuda, renovo o meu compromisso de trabalhar sem descanso em favor do fim da violência, da paz, e da eliminação da Pobreza. Construir uma Nação livre da Pobreza será conquistar o mais difícil entre os Direitos Humanos.
Construir uma Nação livre da Pobreza e uma nação em paz e tranquilidade é um objectivo que está ao nosso alcance: é uma herança que, com firmeza e com trabalho, podemos deixar à geração dos nossos filhos.
Para isso, temos de trabalhar em conjunto para fazer Timor-Leste uma Nação melhor.
Timor-Leste sente orgulho por ser um dos poucos países no Mundo que ratificou todas as sete convenções internacionais de Direitos Humanos.
Aderimos a essas convenções de promoção e de defesa dos direitos das pessoas, já apresentámos um relatório substancial, cumprindo dispositivos previstos nas convenções, e temos já um segundo relatório pronto e aprovado, que será submetido em breve às Nações Unidas.
A decisão tomada em 2002, pelo Estado timorense, de subscrever essas sete convenções resultou das nossas convicções de respeito pelos Direitos Humanos e do valor dos Direitos Humanos na construção de uma sociedade com Justiça.
A decisão do nosso Estado nasceu do respeito pelos valores da Liberdade, da Igualdade e da Justiça, um respeito que tem raiz na história da luta pela libertação e pelos direitos dos timorenses.
Eu tenho feito tudo e tudo continuarei a fazer – como presidente e como cidadão – para ultrapassar as dificuldades que a nossa Nação ainda tem para cumprir todas as obrigações das convenções dos Direitos Humanos.
Como Presidente e como simples cidadão de Timor-Leste sinto orgulho por contribuir para construir o meu país baseado no respeito pelos direitos, pelas liberdades e pelas garantias dos cidadãos. Por ajudar a construir um país baseado no respeito pelo Direito à vida e pela dignidade das pessoas, na recusa da pena de morte, da prisão perpétua e de outras formas de violência do Estado contra os cidadãos.
Sinto que os mais de 20 anos que lutámos e que resistimos – no meio dos maiores perigos e da maior violência – valeram o sacrifício, quando estamos a construir um país baseado na Liberdade, na Igualdade e no Direito à Vida e à Paz.
Sinto satisfação por construir a nossa Nação baseada na igualdade de direitos entre homens e mulheres, na igualdade dos cidadãos face à lei, na promoção dos direitos das crianças – os nossos cidadãos do futuro.
Mas também sei que ainda estamos longe de terminar este trabalho de garantir os Direitos Humanos em Timor-Leste.
Construído sobre as ruínas que nos deixaram em 1999, o nosso jovem Estado é baseado no Direito e nas liberdades civis e políticas, sem dúvida.
Mas falta ainda realizar muitos direitos sociais e direitos económicos.
Falta-nos ainda acabar com as situações mais graves de pobreza.
Falta-nos consolidar a estabilidade e a paz. Falta-nos ainda garantir uma atmosfera de confiança, para atrair os empresários, para ajudar a criar mais empregos, sobretudo para os mais jovens, e para ajudar a criar mais bem-estar para todos.
Temos também de construir - todos os dias - uma maior igualdade de direitos entre os homens e as mulheres. Temos de combater – todos os dias – a violência doméstica. Temos de garantir às nossas crianças uma educação melhor, e o direito a uma educação sem violência.
Temos de trabalhar para dar às nossas crianças e aos nossos jovens mais oportunidades de desenvolvimento equilibrado e de promoção económica e social.
No Dia dos Direitos Humanos, peço ao povo de Timor-Leste, aos homens e às mulheres, aos professores e professoras, aos jovens, para darem, todos os dias, o contributo do seu bom exemplo, para rejeitar a violência.
Quero pedir ao povo para contribuir, nas aldeias, nas escolas, nos mercados, nas famílias, em todas as circunstâncias, para uma vida tranquila e sem violência nas suas comunidades.
Respeitar melhor os Direitos Humanos no nosso país é um trabalho que não pode ser só do governo. É um dever do Governo, mas é também um dever de todo o povo. Só com a ajuda de todos podemos melhorar a vida do nosso país.
Como Presidente da República reafirmo o compromisso sagrado de, no exercício do meu mandato, assim como na minha vida de simples cidadão, continuar a fazer tudo para promover o respeito pelos Direitos Humanos, incluindo os direitos económicos, sociais e culturais, de todos os timorenses.
Contando com a vossa ajuda, renovo o meu compromisso de trabalhar sem descanso em favor do fim da violência, da paz, e da eliminação da Pobreza. Construir uma Nação livre da Pobreza será conquistar o mais difícil entre os Direitos Humanos.
Construir uma Nação livre da Pobreza e uma nação em paz e tranquilidade é um objectivo que está ao nosso alcance: é uma herança que, com firmeza e com trabalho, podemos deixar à geração dos nossos filhos.
Para isso, temos de trabalhar em conjunto para fazer Timor-Leste uma Nação melhor.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
New Oversight Office Expands Human Rights Monitoring
(July 26, 2006)
http://timor-leste.usaid.gov/PrintVersion/DGArchive28Print.htm
When the shooting stopped outside police headquarters in Dili on May 26, staff members from Timor-Leste's new watchdog office for human rights, governance, and corruption were among the first to visit the scene. The Provedor's Office has a strong monitoring mandate from Parliament and has expanded its human rights work to look into a range of complaints since the start of civil disturbances on April 28. The May 26 shooting of unarmed policemen under UN protection is one of the incidents that the office is focused on. As part of their work, staff members have already conducted more than 80 interviews and visited sites in 10 districts outside Dili.
The Provedor's Office was established last year with support from USAID and other donors to investigate reports of human rights abuses, corruption, and poor governance. It submitted its first annual report to Parliament on June 30, meeting the legal deadline despite the current political and social upheaval. The on-time submission sends a strong message that the office has not only continued to function throughout the crisis but also has rapidly increased the human rights monitoring component. The annual report includes a section on the recent events and also makes recommendations for strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the institution in protecting citizens’ rights. The report will be translated from Portuguese into Tetum and English and distributed widely.
"This report is very important for us, and we see it as an opportunity to have a 'dialogue' with Parliament and society about the establishment of the Provedor's Office and the plans and project which lay ahead of us in the near future”, said Provedor Sebastião Dias Ximenes. "I believe that this office is shaping up as an independent mechanism worthy of the trust of all [*parties*], including those who may want to raise their concerns in the areas of human rights violation, good governance, and corruption. We are responsibly exercising our legal powers and we are working very hard and intensively to improve and strengthen this institution on a day-to-day basis. I would like to reiterate here that the doors of the Provedor's Office are open to all."
Current USAID-funded activities in the Provedor's Office include human rights monitoring, data collection and analysis, and public assistance. Staff members have also mobilized a new monitoring team with a network of 10 human-rights-focused non-governmental organizations to assist in these operations. The Provedor's senior legal research specialist, public assistance specialist, and administration specialist are funded through USAID's partner, Management Sciences for Development (MSD). All are fully engaged as the office undertakes the tasks of human rights monitoring operations, site visits, statement collection, and reporting.
The office opened its doors to the public on March 22, 2006, after 9 months of intensive preparations. It had received 48 complaints even before the official opening, and has since received 38 more. All complaints received by the office are investigated and findings of possible criminal liability and complicity are forwarded to the Office of the Prosecutor General for the filing of the appropriate indictment and prosecution.
USAID supported the establishment of the Provedor's Office and continues its funding through its partnership with MSD. The activities of the Provedor's Office help strengthen Timor-Leste's democracy by encouraging effective oversight of its institutions and protection for its people.
http://timor-leste.usaid.gov/PrintVersion/DGArchive28Print.htm
When the shooting stopped outside police headquarters in Dili on May 26, staff members from Timor-Leste's new watchdog office for human rights, governance, and corruption were among the first to visit the scene. The Provedor's Office has a strong monitoring mandate from Parliament and has expanded its human rights work to look into a range of complaints since the start of civil disturbances on April 28. The May 26 shooting of unarmed policemen under UN protection is one of the incidents that the office is focused on. As part of their work, staff members have already conducted more than 80 interviews and visited sites in 10 districts outside Dili.
The Provedor's Office was established last year with support from USAID and other donors to investigate reports of human rights abuses, corruption, and poor governance. It submitted its first annual report to Parliament on June 30, meeting the legal deadline despite the current political and social upheaval. The on-time submission sends a strong message that the office has not only continued to function throughout the crisis but also has rapidly increased the human rights monitoring component. The annual report includes a section on the recent events and also makes recommendations for strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the institution in protecting citizens’ rights. The report will be translated from Portuguese into Tetum and English and distributed widely.
"This report is very important for us, and we see it as an opportunity to have a 'dialogue' with Parliament and society about the establishment of the Provedor's Office and the plans and project which lay ahead of us in the near future”, said Provedor Sebastião Dias Ximenes. "I believe that this office is shaping up as an independent mechanism worthy of the trust of all [*parties*], including those who may want to raise their concerns in the areas of human rights violation, good governance, and corruption. We are responsibly exercising our legal powers and we are working very hard and intensively to improve and strengthen this institution on a day-to-day basis. I would like to reiterate here that the doors of the Provedor's Office are open to all."
Current USAID-funded activities in the Provedor's Office include human rights monitoring, data collection and analysis, and public assistance. Staff members have also mobilized a new monitoring team with a network of 10 human-rights-focused non-governmental organizations to assist in these operations. The Provedor's senior legal research specialist, public assistance specialist, and administration specialist are funded through USAID's partner, Management Sciences for Development (MSD). All are fully engaged as the office undertakes the tasks of human rights monitoring operations, site visits, statement collection, and reporting.
The office opened its doors to the public on March 22, 2006, after 9 months of intensive preparations. It had received 48 complaints even before the official opening, and has since received 38 more. All complaints received by the office are investigated and findings of possible criminal liability and complicity are forwarded to the Office of the Prosecutor General for the filing of the appropriate indictment and prosecution.
USAID supported the establishment of the Provedor's Office and continues its funding through its partnership with MSD. The activities of the Provedor's Office help strengthen Timor-Leste's democracy by encouraging effective oversight of its institutions and protection for its people.
Friday, April 20, 2007
HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING OPENS A NEW CHAPTER IN TIMOR-LESTE
http://www.tl.undp.org/undp/newsroom/News/news4.html
Dili, Timor-Leste, 16 February 2007
A group of twenty Timor-Leste nationals were presented with certificates after successfully completing a two-week training course on the principles of human rights in the country’s capital, Dili. It was facilitated by the UNDP, United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as well as the Irish Aid.
The graduates, who are staff members of the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), and the Human Rights Monitoring Network of NGOs (RMDH) were honored in a special ceremony on 16 February 2007, held at the compound of the PDHJ, where the training took place. “This is a testimony to your interest and commitment in human rights work,” Sebastiao Ximenes, the Provedor Dos Direitos Humanos e Justica, (Director PDHJ) stated during the closing ceremony of the event. He emphasized team spirit and collaboration between NGOs and the Provedoria, saying this was important in advancing human rights in the country. The PDHJ is the national human rights institution of Timor-Leste.
The participants have now acquired a clear understanding of the international human rights framework under the United Nations system, substantive knowledge of the core international human rights treaties, the reflection of rights and freedoms in the Constitution of Timor-Leste, as well as principles underlined in the Provedoria, and other human rights bodies in the country.
“We are happy to work with you in developing your skills in human rights,” remarked Katja Hemmerich the Acting Chief of UNMIT Human Rights and Transitional Justice Unit. “Both the Provedoria and human rights NGOs fulfill a very important function in protecting and promoting human rights in Timor-Leste.”
The training session was the first of a series of capacity-building activities under the three-year UNDP-OHCHR support project, Human Rights Capacity Building of the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice. The inclusion of civil society actors in training sessions is a key element of the project, through which the Provedoria can perform its public outreach and education function while enhancing skills and knowledge of its own staff.
“The concept of human rights is still vague to many people” Aderito De Jesus, a human rights lawyer and facilitator said. “The main challenge in a workshop like this is to encourage participants to internalize human rights values in their practical, daily lives, seeing it as their role to protect and defend human rights at all times,” stressed Aderito, adding that an enthusiastic mood prevailed during the workshop.
Underscoring the commitment of UNDP in supporting the Provedoria, the Country Director, Akbar Usmani observed that the Provedoria had made significant strides in its work within a relatively short period of time. “You still have a long way to go but UNDP will walk the journey with you,” noted Akbar.
In comments echoed by many participants, Terrencia Maia who works as an investigator with the Provedoria said: “The two weeks of training have been a great learning opportunity. I now have a better grasp of the human rights framework that guides our work.” She called for more training programmes to benefit Timorese human rights practitioners.
Respect for human rights remain central in meeting the Millennium Development Goals and in fulfilling the aspirations of the UN charter.
Dili, Timor-Leste, 16 February 2007
A group of twenty Timor-Leste nationals were presented with certificates after successfully completing a two-week training course on the principles of human rights in the country’s capital, Dili. It was facilitated by the UNDP, United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as well as the Irish Aid.
The graduates, who are staff members of the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), and the Human Rights Monitoring Network of NGOs (RMDH) were honored in a special ceremony on 16 February 2007, held at the compound of the PDHJ, where the training took place. “This is a testimony to your interest and commitment in human rights work,” Sebastiao Ximenes, the Provedor Dos Direitos Humanos e Justica, (Director PDHJ) stated during the closing ceremony of the event. He emphasized team spirit and collaboration between NGOs and the Provedoria, saying this was important in advancing human rights in the country. The PDHJ is the national human rights institution of Timor-Leste.
The participants have now acquired a clear understanding of the international human rights framework under the United Nations system, substantive knowledge of the core international human rights treaties, the reflection of rights and freedoms in the Constitution of Timor-Leste, as well as principles underlined in the Provedoria, and other human rights bodies in the country.
“We are happy to work with you in developing your skills in human rights,” remarked Katja Hemmerich the Acting Chief of UNMIT Human Rights and Transitional Justice Unit. “Both the Provedoria and human rights NGOs fulfill a very important function in protecting and promoting human rights in Timor-Leste.”
The training session was the first of a series of capacity-building activities under the three-year UNDP-OHCHR support project, Human Rights Capacity Building of the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice. The inclusion of civil society actors in training sessions is a key element of the project, through which the Provedoria can perform its public outreach and education function while enhancing skills and knowledge of its own staff.
“The concept of human rights is still vague to many people” Aderito De Jesus, a human rights lawyer and facilitator said. “The main challenge in a workshop like this is to encourage participants to internalize human rights values in their practical, daily lives, seeing it as their role to protect and defend human rights at all times,” stressed Aderito, adding that an enthusiastic mood prevailed during the workshop.
Underscoring the commitment of UNDP in supporting the Provedoria, the Country Director, Akbar Usmani observed that the Provedoria had made significant strides in its work within a relatively short period of time. “You still have a long way to go but UNDP will walk the journey with you,” noted Akbar.
In comments echoed by many participants, Terrencia Maia who works as an investigator with the Provedoria said: “The two weeks of training have been a great learning opportunity. I now have a better grasp of the human rights framework that guides our work.” She called for more training programmes to benefit Timorese human rights practitioners.
Respect for human rights remain central in meeting the Millennium Development Goals and in fulfilling the aspirations of the UN charter.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Human Rights Defenders - HRW
Excerpts: Human Rights Watch World Report 2007
http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/eastti14856.htm
Timor-Leste’s nongovernmental human rights defenders operated freely and played an active role in lobbying the UN and government. There were no attacks on human rights defenders in 2006.
Timor-Leste’s Office of the Provedor started receiving complaints from the public in March 2006. The office has far-reaching powers to investigate and report on complaints against government officials and institutions, including human rights abuses by police, but suffers from a lack of human and other resources. As with other institutions in Dili, many of the office’s staff were affected by the year’s violence and unable to work, due to fear of remaining in the capital.
http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/eastti14856.htm
Timor-Leste’s nongovernmental human rights defenders operated freely and played an active role in lobbying the UN and government. There were no attacks on human rights defenders in 2006.
Timor-Leste’s Office of the Provedor started receiving complaints from the public in March 2006. The office has far-reaching powers to investigate and report on complaints against government officials and institutions, including human rights abuses by police, but suffers from a lack of human and other resources. As with other institutions in Dili, many of the office’s staff were affected by the year’s violence and unable to work, due to fear of remaining in the capital.
Hasegawa's Introductory Statement
Introductory Statement by Mr. Sukehiro Hasegawa Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste 29 August 2005
http://www.unmiset.org/UNMISETWebSite.nsf/e4899f58093d13
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Let me now turn to the third component, support to democratic governance and human rights through the provision of ten human rights officers. As a key element of UNOTIL’s mandate, we have assigned six human rights officers to respective national State institutions, namely the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and Defence, Ministry of Education, the Office of the Provedor, and the National Parliament, in order to strengthen their capacity to protect and promote human rights at all level. We have also assigned five national human rights officers to State institutions to play an increasingly important role as part of the transition to a sustainable human rights development in Timor-Leste. I wish to stress that I personally follow the developments in this area closely and maintain a vigorous and constructive dialogue with key government and state actors to enhance our efforts.
I am delighted to report that the long-awaited Provedor for Human Rights and Justice has recently been sworn in by the National Parliament. This is a significant step toward enhancement of transparency and accountability in public administration, not only in the human rights area, but also in the fight against corruption. UNOTIL will extend maximum support to strengthening the technical and functional capacity of the Office of the Provedor as well as the Offices of the Inspector General and Prosecutor-General. UNOTIL is also prepared to assist in the creation of legislation to establish the High Administrative, Tax and Audit Court, as envisaged in the Constitution, and other administrative courts of first instance.
Putting in Place Independent Oversight and Audit
1. Timor-Leste’s critical independent oversight mechanism, the Office of the Provedor de Direitos Humanos e Justica, opened its doors in March 2006. Following the promulgation of the organic law for the Office of the Provedor in April 2004, the Provedor was elected by Parliament in early 2005. The Provedor quickly appointed his two deputies, for human rights and anti-corruption respectively. Recruitment of the staff for the office is nearly complete, and the Provedor has already conducted an education campaign in the districts and in Dili. Per Article 27 of Timor-Leste’s Constitution, the Office of the Provedor will function as Ombudsman and Human Rights Commission. The mandate of the Provedor encompasses fighting corruption,1 promoting good governance and rule of law, protecting human rights, and redressing violations and injustice. The Provedor is appointed by and answers to Parliament and will undertake investigations in response to complaints from the public or requests from Government. The Provedor may make recommendations in a report to the entity affected. The recommendations of the Provedor are not backed by legal sanction but may include referral of a given matter to the Prosecutor General. The Provedor also has a mandate to mediate and conciliate between the complainant and the agency affected. The legislation stipulates that the Provedor shall keep the public informed so a major component of the Provedor’s activities will be public outreach and the promotion of human rights and good governance.
2. The establishment of the Office of the Provedor constitutes a clear and significant commitment to integrity and transparency in governance, but its effectiveness will depend on several factors. Many countries now have ombudsman’s offices, human rights commissions, or a combination of both. Experience has shown that the success of such entities depends on political support, adequate resources, public perceptions, functional competence, and how well they fit into the overall system of administrative regulation. 2 The fact that the Provedor is constitutionally mandated strengthens the office; however, the independence of the office would be further strengthened if its budget were derived directly from Parliament, or were otherwise protected, and the office had access to funds for day-to-day operations, at least through an imprest account. Staffing levels are a further constraint. The Provedor will require sufficient well-qualified staff to be able to deliver timely and thorough investigations, while also disseminating information. This will be particularly so if the Provedor assumes a large role in, for example, oversight of the armed services. Focusing on police oversight efforts under the auspices of the Provedor may be more efficient than the addition of a separate police oversight body but will require additional financial and human resources 1 The Provedor is planning to agree Memoranda of Understanding with, the Prosecutor General, OIG, Police and other relevant agencies with the aim of establishing close communication and coordination among them and avoid duplication of work. It will also be helpful to define corruption cases as distinct from cases of administrative malpractice and purely criminal cases not involving corruption. The OIG and Prosecutor General will need to notify the Provedor of all cases in their purview which appear to involve corruption so that the Provedor can determine whether to take them over.
2 World Bank, Using an Ombudsman to Oversee Public Officials, PREM Note No. 19, April 1999. for the Provedor. Budgeting and staffing levels may need to be increased once the level of demand for the services of the office becomes apparent.
3. The creation of independent oversight bodies to ensure professionalism and accountability on the part of the security forces remains a key governance challenge.
“Developing effective, professional, non-partisan defense and police forces…” is a stated goal of the NDP. Internal and external security understandably remains a continuing concern at the community level. Discipline and professionalism on the part of the armed services are critical to providing security, upholding the rule of law, maintaining good relations between army and police, and generating public confidence in the armed forces.
Any gains which may be made in establishing better relationships between the armed forces and communities will quickly be lost if there is a perception of impunity for those who commit disciplinary or criminal offences. Emerging evidence of unprofessional conduct highlights the need for independent oversight bodies for the security forces, as well as the development of adequate capacity for civilian management of the defense force.
4. While there has been commendable progress in the institutionalization of disciplinary systems for the police service, these could be further strengthened by clearer articulation of roles. The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) falls within the Ministry of Interior. In keeping with the Organic Law of the PNTL, the Professional Ethics and Deontology Unit (PEDU) provides a complaints mechanism for the public and undertakes investigations. Minor breaches of discipline are handled within districts, while serious offenses are referred to PEDU. Where disciplinary review and appeal are concerned, there is some ambiguity, with overlap between the Inspectorate, established by the Organic Law for the Ministry of Interior, and the Superior Police Council, mandated by the Organic Law of the PNTL to be the final determining body on police complaints. Disciplinary review and oversight of the PNTL would be strengthened through clarification of the roles of these bodies, ideally when rules of procedure for both organs are developed. Protocols for interaction with the Office of the Provedor will also need to be developed. Clarification of the lines of operational authority between civilian officials in the Ministry and the PNTL command structure will reinforce the independence of the police force. The army, Falintil-Timor-Leste Defense Force, has developed an internal disciplinary code, but this has yet to be approved by the Ministry of Defense. Encouragingly, however, there have been inquiries into and hearings on some breaches of discipline. Meanwhile, the Office of the Provedor provides the only external oversight for the security forces. Consideration could be given to establishing an independent review commission for police complaints, as well as strengthening Parliament’s oversight role with respect to the security forces.
5. Ensuring independence of the audit of government accounts is crucial for enhancing governance. Timor-Leste’s Constitution allots the function of external audit to the High Administrative, Tax and Audit Court. As as interim measure, the Ministry of Planning and Finance contracts the task to an external private auditing company, after which audit reports and the management letter are submitted to the Executive, and then to Parliament. While contracting is unavoidable in the short and medium term, contracting by the Ministry has serious shortcomings. It creates conflict of interest as the audit is paid for by the entity which is being audited, and there is no independent check on the scope and rigor of the audit. Nor does it contribute to local institution building for external audit. Recognizing that the establishment of the High Administrative, Tax and Audit Court may take some years, arrangements are now being made to transfer the responsibility for the contract of the external auditor from the MoPF to the Court of Appeals (CoA). Until independent audit capacity is developed, the CoA will need support services to help manage the contract and interpret the audit results. A study to outline the necessary arrangements for the transfer and subsequent capacity building is planned for
2006. The CoA has incorporated the needs of the future High Administrative, Tax and
Audit Court into its long-term human resource planning.
Box 12: Suggested Actions
• Ensure adequate funding of the Office of the Provedor with budget approved directly by Parliament
• Publish and submit to Parliament the Annual Reports of the Provedor
• Establish a credible independent audit function under the Court of Appeals, pending the creation of the High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court
• Establish mechanisms for coordination between Ministry of Interior, PNTL, and Office of the Provedor
• Create independent review commission for police complaints.
http://www.unmiset.org/UNMISETWebSite.nsf/e4899f58093d13
6749256f0a003f1073/3788ff09b464dfdd4925709c00192bdc?OpenDocument
Let me now turn to the third component, support to democratic governance and human rights through the provision of ten human rights officers. As a key element of UNOTIL’s mandate, we have assigned six human rights officers to respective national State institutions, namely the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and Defence, Ministry of Education, the Office of the Provedor, and the National Parliament, in order to strengthen their capacity to protect and promote human rights at all level. We have also assigned five national human rights officers to State institutions to play an increasingly important role as part of the transition to a sustainable human rights development in Timor-Leste. I wish to stress that I personally follow the developments in this area closely and maintain a vigorous and constructive dialogue with key government and state actors to enhance our efforts.
I am delighted to report that the long-awaited Provedor for Human Rights and Justice has recently been sworn in by the National Parliament. This is a significant step toward enhancement of transparency and accountability in public administration, not only in the human rights area, but also in the fight against corruption. UNOTIL will extend maximum support to strengthening the technical and functional capacity of the Office of the Provedor as well as the Offices of the Inspector General and Prosecutor-General. UNOTIL is also prepared to assist in the creation of legislation to establish the High Administrative, Tax and Audit Court, as envisaged in the Constitution, and other administrative courts of first instance.
Putting in Place Independent Oversight and Audit
1. Timor-Leste’s critical independent oversight mechanism, the Office of the Provedor de Direitos Humanos e Justica, opened its doors in March 2006. Following the promulgation of the organic law for the Office of the Provedor in April 2004, the Provedor was elected by Parliament in early 2005. The Provedor quickly appointed his two deputies, for human rights and anti-corruption respectively. Recruitment of the staff for the office is nearly complete, and the Provedor has already conducted an education campaign in the districts and in Dili. Per Article 27 of Timor-Leste’s Constitution, the Office of the Provedor will function as Ombudsman and Human Rights Commission. The mandate of the Provedor encompasses fighting corruption,1 promoting good governance and rule of law, protecting human rights, and redressing violations and injustice. The Provedor is appointed by and answers to Parliament and will undertake investigations in response to complaints from the public or requests from Government. The Provedor may make recommendations in a report to the entity affected. The recommendations of the Provedor are not backed by legal sanction but may include referral of a given matter to the Prosecutor General. The Provedor also has a mandate to mediate and conciliate between the complainant and the agency affected. The legislation stipulates that the Provedor shall keep the public informed so a major component of the Provedor’s activities will be public outreach and the promotion of human rights and good governance.
2. The establishment of the Office of the Provedor constitutes a clear and significant commitment to integrity and transparency in governance, but its effectiveness will depend on several factors. Many countries now have ombudsman’s offices, human rights commissions, or a combination of both. Experience has shown that the success of such entities depends on political support, adequate resources, public perceptions, functional competence, and how well they fit into the overall system of administrative regulation. 2 The fact that the Provedor is constitutionally mandated strengthens the office; however, the independence of the office would be further strengthened if its budget were derived directly from Parliament, or were otherwise protected, and the office had access to funds for day-to-day operations, at least through an imprest account. Staffing levels are a further constraint. The Provedor will require sufficient well-qualified staff to be able to deliver timely and thorough investigations, while also disseminating information. This will be particularly so if the Provedor assumes a large role in, for example, oversight of the armed services. Focusing on police oversight efforts under the auspices of the Provedor may be more efficient than the addition of a separate police oversight body but will require additional financial and human resources 1 The Provedor is planning to agree Memoranda of Understanding with, the Prosecutor General, OIG, Police and other relevant agencies with the aim of establishing close communication and coordination among them and avoid duplication of work. It will also be helpful to define corruption cases as distinct from cases of administrative malpractice and purely criminal cases not involving corruption. The OIG and Prosecutor General will need to notify the Provedor of all cases in their purview which appear to involve corruption so that the Provedor can determine whether to take them over.
2 World Bank, Using an Ombudsman to Oversee Public Officials, PREM Note No. 19, April 1999. for the Provedor. Budgeting and staffing levels may need to be increased once the level of demand for the services of the office becomes apparent.
3. The creation of independent oversight bodies to ensure professionalism and accountability on the part of the security forces remains a key governance challenge.
“Developing effective, professional, non-partisan defense and police forces…” is a stated goal of the NDP. Internal and external security understandably remains a continuing concern at the community level. Discipline and professionalism on the part of the armed services are critical to providing security, upholding the rule of law, maintaining good relations between army and police, and generating public confidence in the armed forces.
Any gains which may be made in establishing better relationships between the armed forces and communities will quickly be lost if there is a perception of impunity for those who commit disciplinary or criminal offences. Emerging evidence of unprofessional conduct highlights the need for independent oversight bodies for the security forces, as well as the development of adequate capacity for civilian management of the defense force.
4. While there has been commendable progress in the institutionalization of disciplinary systems for the police service, these could be further strengthened by clearer articulation of roles. The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) falls within the Ministry of Interior. In keeping with the Organic Law of the PNTL, the Professional Ethics and Deontology Unit (PEDU) provides a complaints mechanism for the public and undertakes investigations. Minor breaches of discipline are handled within districts, while serious offenses are referred to PEDU. Where disciplinary review and appeal are concerned, there is some ambiguity, with overlap between the Inspectorate, established by the Organic Law for the Ministry of Interior, and the Superior Police Council, mandated by the Organic Law of the PNTL to be the final determining body on police complaints. Disciplinary review and oversight of the PNTL would be strengthened through clarification of the roles of these bodies, ideally when rules of procedure for both organs are developed. Protocols for interaction with the Office of the Provedor will also need to be developed. Clarification of the lines of operational authority between civilian officials in the Ministry and the PNTL command structure will reinforce the independence of the police force. The army, Falintil-Timor-Leste Defense Force, has developed an internal disciplinary code, but this has yet to be approved by the Ministry of Defense. Encouragingly, however, there have been inquiries into and hearings on some breaches of discipline. Meanwhile, the Office of the Provedor provides the only external oversight for the security forces. Consideration could be given to establishing an independent review commission for police complaints, as well as strengthening Parliament’s oversight role with respect to the security forces.
5. Ensuring independence of the audit of government accounts is crucial for enhancing governance. Timor-Leste’s Constitution allots the function of external audit to the High Administrative, Tax and Audit Court. As as interim measure, the Ministry of Planning and Finance contracts the task to an external private auditing company, after which audit reports and the management letter are submitted to the Executive, and then to Parliament. While contracting is unavoidable in the short and medium term, contracting by the Ministry has serious shortcomings. It creates conflict of interest as the audit is paid for by the entity which is being audited, and there is no independent check on the scope and rigor of the audit. Nor does it contribute to local institution building for external audit. Recognizing that the establishment of the High Administrative, Tax and Audit Court may take some years, arrangements are now being made to transfer the responsibility for the contract of the external auditor from the MoPF to the Court of Appeals (CoA). Until independent audit capacity is developed, the CoA will need support services to help manage the contract and interpret the audit results. A study to outline the necessary arrangements for the transfer and subsequent capacity building is planned for
2006. The CoA has incorporated the needs of the future High Administrative, Tax and
Audit Court into its long-term human resource planning.
Box 12: Suggested Actions
• Ensure adequate funding of the Office of the Provedor with budget approved directly by Parliament
• Publish and submit to Parliament the Annual Reports of the Provedor
• Establish a credible independent audit function under the Court of Appeals, pending the creation of the High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court
• Establish mechanisms for coordination between Ministry of Interior, PNTL, and Office of the Provedor
• Create independent review commission for police complaints.
Office of the Provedor and Corruption
www.unic.or.jp/new/pdf/T_Leste%20report%20sum.pdf
Excerpts:
The Office of the Provedor is a central element of the national anticorruption strategy.It has the mandate to investigate all complaints of corruption as well as maladministration and human rights. Its role embraces investigation, prevention and education in relation to these matters.
Currently, the Office has insufficient resources and expertise to carry out its
responsibilities effectively.We therefore recommend that additional resources be supplied to the Provedor so that it can become fully operational by June 2006; that the implementation plan of the Office be endorsed by the Administration; that qualified expert expatriate staff be recruited as soon as possible to work alongside Timorese staff; and that independent surveys of citizen attitudes and perceptions be conducted to provide benchmarks against which progress can be measured.
11. Establishing respect for human rights and protecting them is part of the mandate of the Office of the Provedor. To help ensure that Government is kept fully informed of human rights issues, a human rights advisory position has been established in the Office of the Prime Minister.We endorse this position and recommend that the organic law of the Office of the Adviser on Human Rights be made. It is clearly important that the Office establish relations with the Provedor’s Office and liaise with CSOs in order to keep abreast of community views.
Excerpts:
The Office of the Provedor is a central element of the national anticorruption strategy.It has the mandate to investigate all complaints of corruption as well as maladministration and human rights. Its role embraces investigation, prevention and education in relation to these matters.
Currently, the Office has insufficient resources and expertise to carry out its
responsibilities effectively.We therefore recommend that additional resources be supplied to the Provedor so that it can become fully operational by June 2006; that the implementation plan of the Office be endorsed by the Administration; that qualified expert expatriate staff be recruited as soon as possible to work alongside Timorese staff; and that independent surveys of citizen attitudes and perceptions be conducted to provide benchmarks against which progress can be measured.
11. Establishing respect for human rights and protecting them is part of the mandate of the Office of the Provedor. To help ensure that Government is kept fully informed of human rights issues, a human rights advisory position has been established in the Office of the Prime Minister.We endorse this position and recommend that the organic law of the Office of the Adviser on Human Rights be made. It is clearly important that the Office establish relations with the Provedor’s Office and liaise with CSOs in order to keep abreast of community views.
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