Díli, 17 March 2026 – The Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ), in partnership with the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), today convened a workshop on torture prevention, bringing together staff from PDHJ’s Thematic Direction to strengthen national capacity in monitoring places of detention and advancing human rights protections in Timor-Leste.
The workshop was officially opened by the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan” who underscored that the fight against torture goes beyond legal compliance and is deeply rooted in the nation’s history and identity.
“For us in Timor-Leste, advocating for human rights and human dignity is not only about upholding democracy—it is our historical responsibility,” the Ombudsman emphasized in his opening remarks.
The session set the tone for a full-day program led by APT experts, Nid Satjipanon and Benjamin Buckland, who brought extensive international experience and practical insights into torture prevention mechanisms.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in a series of thematic sessions aligned with international best practices. Discussions began with an overview of current risks of torture and ill-treatment, including the relevance of the Méndez Principles as a modern framework for safeguarding detainees. This was followed by an in-depth presentation on the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), highlighting its role in establishing preventive monitoring systems through independent national mechanisms.
A significant portion of the workshop focused on APT’s monitoring methodology, providing PDHJ staff with practical tools to enhance their fieldwork. Sessions covered the full cycle of detention monitoring—from preparation and conducting visits to applying the principle of triangulation of information and developing effective recommendations to authorities. Participants also took part in plenary discussions, sharing field experiences, challenges, and opportunities to improve monitoring practices in Timor-Leste.
The workshop reflects the continued collaboration between PDHJ and APT, building on previous joint initiatives, including the development of a prison guard manual in 2021, and ongoing engagement through international human rights platforms.
In his closing remarks, the Ombudsman expressed appreciation to the APT delegation for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed PDHJ’s commitment to strengthening its institutional capacity.
He encouraged all participants to internalize the new methodologies presented and to apply them in their monitoring of prisons and police detention facilities, in order to achieve more effective and impactful results.
The Ombudsman further emphasized that strengthening preventive monitoring is essential not only for improving conditions of detention but also for reinforcing accountability, transparency, and respect for human dignity across public institutions.
he workshop marks an important step in Timor-Leste’s ongoing efforts to strengthen torture prevention mechanisms and enhance institutional capacity for effective monitoring of places of detention. It also contributes to the growing national dialogue on the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), reinforcing the importance of preventive approaches and independent oversight. Through continued engagement with partners such as the Association for the Prevention of Torture, PDHJ reaffirms its commitment to supporting advocacy efforts and providing technical contributions toward Timor-Leste’s path to OPCAT ratification.
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