Dili, 17 February 2025 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres ‘Lamukan,’was a prominent speaker at a discussion on online child protection, themed“Forming a Safer Future: Government Policy and Programs for Online Child Protection in Timor-Leste.” The event marked the launch of the Swipe Safe-App, a new online safety application designed to help children, young people, parents, caregivers, and teachers navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. The initiative was spearheaded by the Institute for the Defense of Children’s Rights (INDDICA), ChildFund Timor-Leste, and the Alumni of the Youth Parliament of Timor-Leste (APFTL).
In his speech, Guterres emphasized that the protection of young people and children is a shared responsibility of the state, society, and families, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. He highlighted that in today’s digital era, online safety has become a fundamental right, making digital rights an essential part of the broader human rights conversation.
“Digital rights also include digital security—ensuring the protection of personal data and safe communication in an increasingly digitalized world,” Guterres stated. “The world is evolving rapidly, and the challenges we face today are very different from those of the 1970s.”
The Ombudsman reaffirmed his commitment to raising awareness and promoting digital safety through discussions and seminars. He stressed the importance of equipping young people and children with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves online while advocating for the protection of their rights in the digital space as a fundamental human right.
“This is why the Ombudsman continues to engage in discussions like this—to safeguard citizens’ rights in the digital era,” Guterres remarked during his presentation at the City8 Conference Hall, Manleuana, Dili, on 17 February 2025.
The session featured prominent speakers from the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), INDDICA, TIC Timor IP, and the Ministry of Education, with key representatives from the Australian Embassy, key stakeholders, and secondary school students in attendance.
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