Speech of H.E. José Luis Guterres, on third Committee of Human Rights
New York, November 17, 2003

Mr. Chairman,

Let me at the outset express my country’s appreciation for the annual Report1 of the Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Bertrand Ramcharan, who excellently addressed this Committee last week. Timor-Leste values the continuing efforts of the UNHCHR in the promotion and protection of fundamental rights worldwide. The example set by the late Sergio Vieira de Mello continues to inspire us.

We also commend the Reports of all the Special Rapporteurs who provided us with impartial assessments of often sensitive human rights situations.

In this context, we believe that the interactive dialogue which enabled the Committee to engage with the Special Rapporteurs was extremely fruitful.

Human rights and fundamental freedoms are the pillars of democratic societies and their respect and promotion is regarded as a priority in the nation building process and a prerequisite for sustainable development.

Over the last year, Timor-Leste ratified the core universal instruments for the protection of civil and political rights (ICCPR), and economic, social and cultural rights (ICESC) and is committed to implementing the provisions contained in these Covenants.

With respect to the promotion of political rights, the Government initiated the “open-governance” programme aimed at the full participation of all citizens in the domestic political process through direct dialogue between the Administration and the communities.

In relation to the right to health, Timorese authorities have assumed responsibility for providing health services in 13 districts and are expected to grant soon delivery of affordable and cost-effective preventive and curative health services to all communities.

This will match one of the main objectives of the Millennium Declaration Goals. In this respect, we acknowledge the critical support of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Bank as well as the donor countries.

As far as the right to education is concerned, our Government is committed to increasing access to primary and junior high school on an open and equal basis. As a result of this policy, gross primary school enrolments have reached 95% especially for girls and for children from the poorest sectors of the population. With the assistance of UNICEF the Ministry of Education has redesigned the school curricula to include a human rights perspective.

Timor-Leste has also strengthened its co-operation in all fields of education, science and culture by becoming the 189th member of the UNESCO in June 2003.

Mr. Chairman,

As Professor Yakin Erturck stated in her illustrative presentation of her report (A/58/421), violence against women is “a persistent obstacle to the promotion and protection of women’s rights”. A democratic society is built on the respect of the inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms of every person without discrimination of any kind, including on the base of gender.

To affirm this principle, our National Parliament ratified, among others, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol on 10 December 2002 as well as the Declaration for the elimination of Violence against Women announced in Vienna in 1993.

In compliance with the legal obligations emanating from these instruments, the Prime Minister established the Office for the Promotion of Equality (OPE) and with the support of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), will work towards strengthening national capacity to address gender based violence. Furthermore the UNFPA is supporting the OPE through a project “Strengthening Capacity Response to Deal with Gender Based Violence”.

Women’s networks and local NGO’s have played a key role in raising awareness of domestic violence as a crime. Community based women’s groups from all districts were trained in how to raise awareness and the dynamics of domestic violence. The aim is to take the information back to their communities and inform them of the issues.

The National Police Force with the assistance of UNPOL, the UNMISET Human Rights Unit and UNFPA has been provided with training on how to deal with domestic violence cases. The focus has been on clarifying the role of the Police in the absence of clear guidelines.

Although women are crucial actors for peace and reconciliation, they remain one of the most victimized groups during conflicts and are often excluded from peace-building processes. For this reason, Timor-Leste considers that Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) a landmark in affirming the important role of women both in time of conflicts and peace and the need for their full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.

My country will do its utmost to implement the content of the Resolution 1325 (2000) through its laws, policies and practices.

As a co-sponsor of various human rights resolutions including the resolution on the Elimination of all forms of violence against women, Timor-Leste, attaches great importance to the issue of domestic violence, which represents a social problem of worrying dimensions in our country. To address it, the National Parliament is currently debating, as matter of urgency, a draft law that criminalizes domestic violence proscribing punitive measures and establishing adequate legal protection for victims, especially women and children. The drafting of this legislation involved all sectors of organized civil society in particular women’s groups with the involvement of national lawyers and jurists.

Lastly, Mr. Chairman,

My Government attaches special importance to the situation of other vulnerable groups, such as children. In fact, in December 2002, Timor-Leste ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. At a national level, our Government in a joint effort with the UNICEF child protection programme, the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) as well as international and local NGOs continues to raise general awareness about children’s rights to an environment free from violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

These can be considered progress in the promotion of human rights in Timor-Leste but much remains to be done. My Government is firmly committed to the full respect of inalienable right and freedoms and is convinced that is the only through their full enjoyment can development and prosperity be achieved.

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