Dili, 14 December 2024 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste, Virgílio da Silva Gurerres ‘Lamukan’ delivered a keynote speech at the National Seminar for Health Professionals held at the CNE auditorium. Themed “Implementation of the Health Professionals’ Career Regime in the Context of a Democratic Rule of Law,” the Ombudsman emphasized the constitutional role of the institution in safeguarding human rights and good governance. Highlighting Article 27 of the Timor-Leste Constitution, the Ombudsman underscored PDHJ’s mandate as an independent body to investigate and address citizen complaints against public authorities, particularly in cases of abuse of power, arbitrary decisions, or human rights violations.
The Ombudsman elaborated on the scope of PDHJ’s supervisory powers, referring to Article 34 of the Constitution, which extends its mandate to monitor public entities and, in certain cases, private entities managing public funds. “Arbitrariness and abuse of power undermine human rights and good governance,” the Ombudsman stated. In the health sector, such practices disrupt essential services, particularly in remote areas where citizens face difficulties accessing adequate healthcare, a fundamental social right. The Ombudsman also expressed concern over the government’s recent decision not to renew contracts for nearly 2,000 health professionals, which has significantly impacted service delivery in underserved regions.
The Ombudsman criticized circulars and administrative decisions that fail to align with constitutional principles and legal frameworks, warning against measures that restrict professional rights or limit access to essential services. “Good governance requires that decisions consider the interests of all stakeholders and reflect legal and constitutional standards,” the Ombudsman remarked. Referring to cases where public servants are restricted from performing secondary functions, the Ombudsman argued that such policies must not compromise their independence or professional integrity while ensuring compliance with the law.
Concluding the speech, the Ombudsman called for collective efforts to advocate for effective policy changes in the health sector. “Our role is not to oppose government policies but to ensure they uphold citizens’ rights and adhere to democratic principles,” the Ombudsman stated. Highlighting the importance of stakeholder collaboration, the Ombudsman urged the Ministry of Health to consider the input of health professionals when formulating policies that affect their careers and service delivery.
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