Dili, May 28, 2024 – The Timor-Leste Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice held a national seminar themed ‘PDHJ for the future,’ gathering speakers and participants from various entities, including members of parliament, government officials, civil society groups, and national and international partners. The seminar took place at the Delta Nova hall in Dili on May 24 as part of a series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the PDHJ.
In his opening remarks, Provedor Virgilio da Silva Guterres ‘Lamukan,’ alongside acknowledging successes, emphasized the challenges faced and called upon all entities to contribute to the future development of the PDHJ. “Recent preliminary public perception surveys, as well as previous ones, have shown that less than 40 percent of the Timorese population is aware of the existence of the PDHJ,” noted Provedor Lamukan.
Furthermore, Provedor Lamukan asserted that even after two decades of existence, neither the populace nor politicians, including some members of parliament, fully understand the correct role of the Ombudsman. “Some refer to me as Director Provedor, some as President of the Provedoria. This includes some members of parliament who wrote ‘The Ombudsman of Human Rights and Justice’ in the constitution. In protocol ceremonies, sometimes protocols don’t prioritize the Provedor’s seating. In formal speeches, the Provedor is often placed on the honorary guest list, despite the fact that by law, the Ombudsman is equivalent to the General Prosecutor.”
Provedor Lamukan emphasizes, “By raising these issues, we have no intention of showing off, but rather to provide information about the state’s culture to appropriately position state bodies.” He continued, stating that there is a sovereign body and a constitutional body, both subject to the law. “The Provedor for Human Rights and Justice is an independent constitutional body operating on the basis of the constitution.” The Provedor reinforces, “This consideration influences our thinking and perception to guide our stance on the development of this institution, especially regarding the allocation of resources and the general state budget to the PDHJ.”
Despite these challenges, the Human Rights and Justice Provedor has prepared and launched its Strategic Plan 2024-2028, initiated public perception surveys on the PDHJ and good governance practices in public institutions. The Provedor is also expanding and strengthening cooperation with national, regional, and international entities to enhance the existence of human rights protection and promotion services and good governance.
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