Dili, 21 January 2025 –– The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres ‘Lamukan’, officially opened the Fellow Induction Week for the 2025 Top Ten Youth Integrity Leaders Fellowship Program of Timor-Leste. The induction, held at Timor Lodge Comoro from 21–24 January, brought together 20 participants committed to championing integrity, accountability, and good governance.
“It is a privilege and an honor to be here today at the opening of this important Youth Integrity Leadership induction,” said Virgílio during his remarks. “This is a significant moment where we come together to empower future leaders who will play an integral role in upholding the values of integrity, justice, and accountability in our society.” He reminded participants of the challenges posed by corruption and mismanagement but expressed optimism about their role as future leaders capable of driving positive change.
The four-day program, supported by USAID Timor-Leste Accountability and Integrity Mechanism Activity (AIM) project, aims to equip participants with the knowledge, tools, and skills to address corruption and promote good governance. The Ombudsman also expressed his gratitude to USAID AIM for partnering with the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) in making this initiative possible. “Today is filled with hope because you represent the change-makers of tomorrow, champions who will restore trust in our institutions and safeguard the rights of the people,” he concluded.
This post is also available in: Tetun