The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, is in Timor-Leste holding high level and community discussions.
The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014. She looks into the respect, protection and fulfillment of all human rights for indigenous peoples worldwide.
She will meet Government and other State officials, non-Government representatives and others in Dili, and will make some community visits.
In her first meeting of the official visit to Timor-Leste, the Special Rapporteur thanked the Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, His Excellency Dionisio da Costa Babo Soares, (above) for the invitation to the country and discussed the importance of preserving Timor-Leste’s rich culture and traditions.
With the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion, Her Excellency Maria Jose da Fonseca Monteiro de Jesus. The Special Rapporteur learnt about women’s access to justice and land, and how Timor-Leste is working towards achieving gender equality.
(Above) With Her Excellency, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Dulce de Jesus Soares, the Special Rapporteur Ms. Tauli-Corpuz discussed, among other things, education in mother tongue.
(Above) Centro Nacional Chega's Executive Director Hugo Maria Fernandes hands over a copy of the “Chega” report by Timor-Leste’s Truth, Reception and Reconciliation Commission (CAVR) to the Special Rapporteur.
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Meeting (above) the Prosecutor General Dr. Jose da Costa Ximenes and his team of prosecutors, and the Chief Public Defender, Dr. Cancio Xavier, to speak about formal and customary justice.
With the President of the Court of Appeal, Dr. Deolindo dos Santos, (above) speaking among other things about the interface between formal and customary laws.