Jakarta, 24 April 2025 – The Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ) of Timor-Leste and the National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia (Komnas HAM) are taking concrete steps toward formalizing a bilateral cooperation agreement focused on enhancing human rights protections in the border areas between the two countries.
The cooperation initiative began with a high-level meeting in Dili on 17 October 2024, where Provedor Virgílio da Silva Guterres ‘Lamukan’ and Komnas HAM Chairperson Atnike Nova Sigiro agreed on the importance of addressing key cross-border issues—such as statelessness, labour rights, and access to basic services—through structured collaboration.
The proposed cooperation includes joint studies, human rights seminars, capacity-building for border officials, and the development of policy responses to better protect vulnerable communities along the border. To formalize this partnership, both institutions committed to preparing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the aim of launching collaborative activities in 2025.
As a follow-up, during the First SEANF Technical Working Group Meeting held in Jakarta from 23 to 24 April 2025, PDHJ’s Head of Cabinet, Áureo José António Savio, met with Komnas HAM Secretary General Henry Silka Innah to discuss the progress of the MoU and outline the next steps.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to finalizing the technical and procedural elements of the agreement. The MoU is expected to be signed on the sidelines of the Second SEANF Technical Working Group Meeting, which is scheduled to take place in July 2025 in Indonesia.
This evolving partnership represents a significant step toward establishing a sustainable, cross-border human rights cooperation model that addresses the specific needs of communities in the Timor-Leste–Indonesia border region. It also demonstrates a shared commitment to regional solidarity, mutual learning, and the promotion of good governance and human dignity.
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