Dili, 19 May 2026 – The Deputy Ombudsman for Human Rights, Maria Marilia da Costa, spoke at a workshop organized by the East Timor Blind Union (ETBU) at the Youth Parliament Hall in Becora, bringing together around 30 participants, including persons with disabilities, disability organizations, representatives from Parliamentary Commission F, AJAR Timor-Leste, and the Commander of the PNTL Cristo Rei Police Station.
She explained that the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) is an independent state institution established in accordance with Article 27 of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and strengthened by Law No. 7/2004, as amended by Law No. 8/2009. Its mandate is to promote and protect human rights, good governance, and justice through receiving complaints, conducting and initiating investigations into cases of maladministration and human rights violations, and issuing recommendations to public institutions to provide remedies, improve administrative practice, and restore public trust, as well as conducting civic education and public awareness to strengthen respect for the rule of law.
She emphasized that independence for persons with disabilities goes beyond personal autonomy, highlighting dignity, equal participation, and equal access to education, health, employment, justice, and public life. She stressed that persons with disabilities must be meaningfully included in decision-making processes and public policies that affect their lives. She also noted that Timor-Leste already has a strong legal and policy framework, including constitutional guarantees on non-discrimination, the National Policy for the Inclusion and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the National Action Plan 2021–2030, and the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2022.
However, she underlined that challenges remain in practice, including persistent stigma, limited accessibility in public infrastructure such as schools and government buildings, unequal access to services, and weak coordination among institutions, particularly in rural areas. She called for stronger implementation of inclusive laws and policies, improved accessibility in public services, capacity-building for public officials and teachers on disability rights, and greater public awareness to promote equality, dignity, and respect for persons with disabilities across Timor-Leste.
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