Dili, 5 March 2026 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan”, participated as a speaker at the National Conference on the Draft National Policy on Reparations, organized by Centro Nacional Chega! (IP) in Dili. The conference was held under the central theme “Reparations as a Path to Restore the Dignity of Victims of Past Conflict”, bringing together state institutions, civil society organizations, and victims’ representatives to discuss the development of a national policy to address human rights violations committed between 1974 and 1999. The Ombudsman delivered his intervention under the sub-theme “The Role of the State in Guaranteeing the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Justice.”
In his intervention, the Ombudsman emphasized that addressing the legacy of human rights violations remains a central challenge for national reconciliation and democratic governance in Timor-Leste. He noted that thousands of individuals and families experienced displacement, violence and loss during the conflict period, leaving deep social and economic impacts that continue to affect communities today. According to the Ombudsman, a comprehensive reparations policy is essential not only to acknowledge the suffering of victims but also to restore dignity and strengthen public trust in state institutions.
The Ombudsman also highlighted that the responsibility of the State to ensure reparations is clearly grounded in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and reinforced by international human rights obligations. He stressed that reparations should be understood as a legal right of victims rather than an optional benefit, and must be implemented through a comprehensive approach that includes restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition. These measures, he explained, are key elements of transitional justice and contribute to strengthening the rule of law and democratic stability.
Furthermore, the Ombudsman underlined the importance of ensuring that the future national reparations policy prioritizes vulnerable groups, including widows, survivors of sexual violence, persons with disabilities and families of the disappeared. He also called for decentralized and accessible mechanisms to allow victims across the country to benefit from the program. Concluding his intervention, the Ombudsman encouraged the State to ensure transparent implementation, sustainable funding and strong oversight mechanisms so that the reparations policy can effectively contribute to justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace in Timor-Leste.
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