Baucau, 9 June 2025 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), Virgílio da Silva Guterres, officially opened and delivered a keynote address during a human rights training for 25 personnel from the Terrestrial Component of FALINTIL–Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL), held at Lanud Baucau.
Organized jointly by PDHJ, F-FDTL, and the Unidade de Assessoria de Direitos Humanos (UADU), the training is designed to strengthen the understanding and application of human rights principles in the daily duties of military personnel.
In his opening remarks, Ombudsman Guterres emphasized that PDHJ, under Law No. 7/2004 (Article 3), has the mandate to oversee public authorities—including the military, police, and prison services—to ensure compliance with human rights standards.
“The military, as a public authority, must operate within the framework of the law and uphold human dignity at all times,” said Mr. Guterres. “This is essential not only in national defense operations, but also when representing Timor-Leste in international peacekeeping missions under the United Nations.”
He further highlighted that citizens have the right to file complaints with PDHJ if they experience abuse or violations by public officials, including military personnel. The Ombudsman reaffirmed PDHJ’s role in investigating such cases and recommending appropriate measures to the relevant ministries and institutions to prevent future violations.
Lieutenant Colonel Hélio Dias Quinta, Commander of the First Battalion, expressed his appreciation to PDHJ and UADU for facilitating the training. He encouraged participants to engage actively and seriously, underlining the importance of integrating human rights into military professionalism and discipline.
The training, held from 9 to 13 June 2025 at the Terrestrial Component base in Baucau, features modules on constitutional rights, proportional use of force, military conduct in peace and conflict settings, and the responsibilities of armed forces in upholding human rights and the rule of law.
This activity reflects PDHJ’s ongoing commitment to promoting a culture of human rights across all sectors, including within the defense and security forces of Timor-Leste.
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