Kuala Lumpur, 22 April 2026 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste (PDHJ), Virgílio da Silva Guterres, delivered a powerful personal intervention at the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) side event, “Defending the Defenders,” held at The Grand Mercure Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang. Speaking from his own experience as a former political prisoner and now as the head of a national human rights institution, Guterres called on regional peers to build a connected ecosystem of protection for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) across Southeast Asia.
Invited by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) to speak on the risks, pressures, and personal sacrifices involved in standing up for human rights, Guterres began by reflecting on Timor-Leste’s journey as a young democracy. “Malaysia gained independence in 1957 — that’s 45 years before us. Indonesia in 1945 — 57 years,” he noted. “That means we have big brothers and sisters from whom we can learn.” He explained that this wisdom guided the drafting of Timor-Leste’s Constitution, which he described as “very advanced and responsive,” citing Articles 16 to 61 on fundamental freedoms and Articles 27, 150, and 151 which establish the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice. He added that Articles 10 and 28 grant political asylum to persecuted defenders and give citizens the right to resist unlawful orders. “The Constitution builds an entire legal architecture around protecting those who speak for justice,” he said.
Addressing the unique challenge of maintaining independence while operating within the state, Guterres acknowledged that many government leaders were once his comrades in the independence struggle. “The current Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, was once my buddy in Cipinang prison,” he shared. “Person to person, I respect them as friends. But when it comes to policy, I do not hesitate to criticize.” He recalled the words of national founder Nicolau Lobato: “The hero of today can become the traitor of tomorrow, and the traitor of today can become the hero of tomorrow.” Drawing on that wisdom, Guterres declared, “If the 200,000 dead for this country’s liberation is not enough, and if one more life is needed, then take me. The foundation of independence is a deep reflection on history and on the true motivation of our fight for liberation.”
Guterres then outlined what positions the PDHJ to act where civil society alone cannot. He emphasized the weight of a constitutional mandate, budget stability not tied to donor cycles, and the authority of GANHRI “A status,” which allows the PDHJ to speak on behalf of the state’s human rights obligations internationally. “Civil society can go places and say things that we as a state institution sometimes cannot,” he said. “We are partners, not competitors. The PDHJ can take their concerns directly into the rooms where decisions are made.”
Looking across the region, Guterres called for NHRIs to build a stronger, more connected protection ecosystem. “Not every country has a constitutional mandate like ours,” he noted, “but where such mandates exist, they carry weight.” He urged regional institutions to contribute their hard-earned wisdom, their independence, and their willingness to speak when silence would be safer. “No single NHRI can protect defenders alone. Civil society remains the heartbeat,” he concluded. “But we can create a regional ecosystem where defenders know that when their own government turns against them, there is another institution in another country, at another level that will speak. That is not interference. That is solidarity. And solidarity is the only thing that has ever truly protected human rights defenders anywhere.”
The side event, organised by SUHAKAM under the auspices of SEANF, also featured an afternoon interactive dialogue focused on strengthening protection frameworks for HRDs across Southeast Asia.
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