HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING OPENS A NEW CHAPTER IN TIMOR-LESTE

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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.