Dili, 07 May 2026 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) of Timor-Leste, represented by Executive Secretary Ambrosio Graciano Soares, participated in the Regional Forum on Human Rights Cities in ASEAN: Localizing Human Rights for Inclusive Development Towards Localizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The hybrid event took place on 27-28 April 2026 at Grande Centre Point Lumphini, Bangkok, Thailand. The forum was organized by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and brought together AICHR members, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), local governments, civil society, and international experts to advance the Human Rights City approach across Southeast Asia.
Keynote speakers and panelists from the UN, European Union, academia, and city governments emphasized that Human Rights Cities offer a practical framework for localizing international and regional commitments such as the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. Seree Nonthasoot of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights highlighted rapid urbanization, noting that over half the world’s population now lives in cities. Other speakers stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships involving local governments, civil society, NHRIs, academia, and the business sector, drawing from successful models in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, including the pioneering examples of Rosario (Argentina) and Gwangju (South Korea).
The two-day event featured site visits to inclusive urban practices in Bangkok, including a nursing home for older persons and persons with disabilities, an emergency shelter for homeless individuals, a food bank, and an accessible ecological park. Panel discussions also addressed smart city frameworks, disability-inclusive mobility, and city-to-city partnerships. A representative of the Government of Timor-Leste, Jacinto dos Santos, expressed gratitude for the knowledge shared and confirmed that Timor-Leste is taking preparatory steps in human resources and infrastructure to potentially apply the Human Rights City model in the future.
The forum concluded with closing remarks by Bolivar L. Bao, Acting AICHR Chair, who thanked all participants for their contributions. The PDHJ delegation’s participation was made possible through an official nomination by Provedor Virgilio da Silva Guterres, with travel and accommodation costs covered by the AICHR Secretariat in collaboration with the European Union. Executive Secretary Ambrosio Graciano Soares reported that the workshop provided highly useful discussions and valuable best practices for advancing human rights at the local level in Timor-Leste.
This post is also available in: Tetun