Yogyakarta, Indonézia, 22-24 July 2025 –The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) of Timor-Leste participated in the 2nd Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting of the Southeast Asian National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF), hosted from 22 to 24 July 2025 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The PDHJ delegation was composed of Áureo José António Sávio, Margarida dos Santos, and Antoninho Bernardino.
The meeting officially opened with welcoming remarks from the Chairperson of Komnas HAM and current SEANF Chair, Anis Hidayah, who warmly greeted all SEANF member delegations and emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration in advancing human rights in the region.
On the first day, members provided comprehensive updates on their respective institutional developments and reviewed follow-up actions from the 1st TWG meeting. Central to the discussions was the progress in implementing the SEANF Strategic Plan’s four core priority areas. PDHJ highlighted its recent achievements across its five constitutional mandates: public policy monitoring, human rights promotion, prevention, protection, and institutional strengthening. The presentation emphasized key outputs including the submission of major public petitions, completion of human rights investigations, and public education campaigns aimed at promoting a culture of rights and accountability in Timor-Leste.
The second day featured institutional sharing among SEANF members and deeper engagement with the SEANF Secretariat and thematic working groups. Members explored strategies to enhance the implementation of the Strategic Plan and improve coordination mechanisms. During this session, PDHJ Timor-Leste presented a concrete proposal to reactivate the SEANF Strategic Communications Working Group (SCWG), which has been inactive in recent years. The proposal outlined steps for revitalizing SEANF’s online presence through regular content updates, institutional visibility, and shared editorial responsibility. The proposal was well received by the members, with PDHJ offering to lead the reactivation process and host the task force moving forward.
On the third and final day, participants took part in a thematic workshop co-organized by Komnas HAM and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), focusing on the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), particularly Environmental HRDs. The workshop featured four in-depth sessions covering the UN Declaration on HRDs, human rights mechanisms, business and human rights, and the protection of HRDs in conflict situations. International experts Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, and Pichamon Yeophantong, Member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, facilitated key discussions. The OHCHR team was represented by Cynthia Veliko, Regional Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in South-East Asia, alongside Human Rights Officers Romchat Wachirarattanakornkul and Arnaud Chaltin. Together, they shared insights on embedding rights-based approaches in environmental governance, development policy, and political participation. The sessions also highlighted the growing risks faced by Environmental HRDs and the proactive role NHRIs can play in their protection. Through expert presentations, interactive group reflections, and dialogue, the workshop provided a meaningful platform to exchange good practices and align regional human rights efforts with global sustainability commitments.
The 2nd TWG Meeting marked an important milestone in advancing SEANF’s collective strategic objectives and deepening cooperation among member institutions. PDHJ reaffirmed its commitment to regional collaboration and to strengthening the role of NHRIs in promoting and protecting human rights across Southeast Asia.
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