Díli, February 3, 2025 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres ‘Lamukan,’ along with the Deputy Ombudsman for Good Governance Affairs, Rigoberto Monteiro, and a technical team, responded to an invitation from the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Hermenegildo Pereira. The meeting took place at the Government Palace in Díli, focusing on key issues related to the Ombudsman’s mandate and legislative reforms.
During the discussion, the Ombudsman expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage in this meeting, as well as for the previous meeting held last year. He acknowledged the Minister’s continued willingness to collaborate with the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (Portuguese acronym: PDHJ) on various matters, including the legislative process for revising the Organic Structure of the PDHJ.
The Ombudsman also highlighted the structural challenges faced by the PDHJ in delivering services to citizens. To address these challenges, he emphasized the need to amend the current Organic Law of the PDHJ to better align with its operational requirements. In response, Minister Hermenegildo Pereira expressed his commitment to facilitating discussions between the technical teams of the PDHJ and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, allowing for in-depth consultations on the drafting process of the revised Organic Law.
Additionally, the Ombudsman highlighted concerns regarding the prohibition of dual employment for health professionals and raised objections to salary reductions affecting personnel at the national news agency, Tatoli. He also urged the government to prioritize strengthening the remuneration of teachers and healthcare professionals and to consider increasing the budget allocation for the education sector.
Deputy Ombudsman Rigoberto Monteiro further emphasized the need for Timor-Leste to establish a legal framework for personal data protection and cybercrime, underscoring its importance in the country’s digital transformation.
This meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both institutions to ongoing collaboration in advancing human rights, good governance, and legislative improvements in Timor-Leste.
This post is also available in: Tetun