Unmit Justice Program Newsletter Oct 09

NEWS

LETTER

October 2009

JUSTICE SYSTEM PROGRAMME Prosecutors and Clerks sworn into Office

In this Edition

Training for Prison Guards on Security, First Aid and Self-Defense 2 Above: Prosecutor from Cape Verde, Oscar Tavares, Dr. Arlindo Figueiredo, Inspector to the Prosecution Office and Dra. Ana Pessoa, Prosecutor-General Below: Clerks from Cape Verde and Portugal

On the 14th of October 2009 at the Office of the Prosecutor-General, four international prosecutors and four international clerks were sworn into office for their one-year assignment in Timor-Leste. These justice actors, from Cape Verde and Portugal, are provided through agreements of cooperation that the UNDP-Justice System Programme (JSP) has promoted and supported both logistically and financially. The prosecutors and clerks will divide their time between performing line functions and providing on the job training with the aim of strengthening the capacity and skills of their national counterparts. It is expected that some of these actors will be assigned to district posts outside of Dili.

October 2009

“It is a great honor for me to be selected for this role and I believe with my professional experience I can contribute to the development of the Prosecution Office and justice system. I have conviction that this is an important mission and that it will personally be a very enriching experience. I hope to deliver good results to the authorities that have placed trust in me to participate in this collective effort to strengthen the justice system of Timor - Leste,’’ said Dr. João Goncalves Rato, one of the two Prosecutors from Portugal. There are currently 13 national prosecutors in Timor-Leste, and five more are expected to graduate in February 2010 following the completion of the 3rd group of Magistrates and Public Defenders course provided by the Legal Training Centre.

UNMIT delivers human rights training at the Legal Training Centre 3 The UNDP Justice System Programme continued its agreement with the Council of Coordination, comprised of the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Appeal and the Office of the Prosecutor-General, in December 2008 with the signing of a 5-year project document. We continue to work towards a strong justice sector and are committed to providing information on our activities. Your comments or suggestions are always welcome and can be sent to [email protected].

The Justice System Programme is supported by Australia, Brazil, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, OHCHR (UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights), and UNDP BCPR (Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery)

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First Aid, Security and Self-defense Training held for Prison Guards

Security, first aid and self-defense are all part of the trainings being conducted at the Becora prison for prison guards in October. The UNDP Prison training specialist, along with national Prison trainers, have been delivering the training for the guards in small groups, approximately 15 guards per group, and hope to complete the training for all guards by the end of 2009. There are currently over 180 prison guards working between the

two existing prisons in Timor-Leste, Becora and Gleno. In the past two years, there has been no serious security incidents at the prisons and refresher courses in security and new trainings are essential to maintain this. Luis Dos Reis, chief guard of a block, attended the first group of training. He worked at the Becora prison for 12 years during Indonesian times, and recommenced working at the prison in 2000 when it reopened. “This was

a good training course. I had attended a previous training on firstaid in 2000, but this is the first time after that. Such trainings must continue and all the guards here at Becora prison must complete them.” Malelena Filipe Amaro, working as a guard since 2000, commented saying “I liked the training a lot, because there was a lot I did not know, and now I would like to know even more”. The guards all undertook practical exams at the end of each training course.

UNDP Prison Training Specialist (above) with guards from Becora and Gleno prison

October 2009

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UNMIT delivers Human Rights training at the Legal Training Centre framework of this young democracy.” obligations. Having been borne out of The trainees of the Magistrates and Furthermore, Mr. Gentile said “These suffering and a long struggle for Public Defenders course received a 4 future judges, prosecutors and public freedom, who better to serve as an day training course in human rights, defenders must decide whether they example for what can be, than Timordelivered by the United Nations want to take advantage of the legal Leste?” Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste building blocks already in place to The candidates of the 3rd group of (UNMIT). The training, delivered in contribute to making Timor-Leste a Magistrates and Public Defenders Tétum, addressed the international regional and world leader in human course, will graduate in February 2010 framework of human rights, the UN rights and not just another country from the Legal Training Centre. mechanisms and the national law in that often ignores its human rights relation to human rights and its use in the courts, the protection of victims of human rights violations and finally, human rights and transitional justice. The objective of the training was to advance these future judicial actors' knowledge on human rights and to highlight how a human rights standard can be applied in the judicial process. Mr. Louis James Gentile, Chief of the UNMIT Human Rights and Transitional Justice Section and Representative of OHCHR in Timor-Leste, gave the opening words to the trainees saying “as future guardians of the rule of law in Timor-Leste an enormous responsibility and incredible opportunity is given to you to advance human rights and the rule of law, given the enormous importance Mr. Louis James Gentile, Chief of the UNMIT Human Rights and Transitional Justice Section and human rights are given in the legal Representative of OHCHR in Timor-Leste at the Human Rights training at the LTC

Capacity Building with Prosecution Clerks For over one year, Maria Leonilde, a court clerk from Portugal worked in the Prosecution Office in Baucau District. Supported by the Justice System Programme (JSP), Maria has a vast amount of experience she brought from working in the Portuguese judicial system and takes priority with transferring her skills and experience for her national counterparts. There are 5 clerks in the Prosecution office, in additional to a chief of administration. Several procedures and methods have been established in order to ensure the efficient functioning of the Prosecution office and to allow for cases to be kept in order. Under the direction of the chief Prosecutor in Baucau, Dr. José October 2009

Ximenes, the Baucau Prosecution office has made substaintial progress in reducing the pending cases. Ricardina Da Costa Ximines, who has been working in the Prosecution office as a clerk for more than two years, worked closely with Leonilde, and was recently promoted to be the clerk in charge of maintaining all the files. She aspires to study further and become a Prosecutor one day. She commented on working with Leonilde that “she taught me slowly on the different processes, including making notifications. She was very patient and calm. I now know the processes very well and very clear.” Ms. Leonilde says that she feels privileged and content to have the opportunity to work in Timor-Leste. She remarks that the national clerks

take a keen interest in their jobs and learning. “They learn very fast, are very interested and always asking questions,” she said. Ms. Leonilde even trained a security guard, Simão Mendonça Neto, who was working in the office of the Prosecution to become a clerk. Simão said, “from 2000 till 2008 I worked as a security guard, and in 2009 I began as a level 2 clerk. I write and organize the notifications. I want to continue to develop myself and my skills for the good of my country and the Prosecution office”. Maria Leonilde recently moved to work in the Prosecution office in Dili.

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NEWS

LETTER

October 2009

JUSTICE SYSTEM PROGRAMME Photos of the Month

24th October- To celebrate UN Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supported by UNMIT, held a model-UN conference to recreate the historic Security Council session of October 1999. UN agencies, including the UNDP Justice System Programme, participated in the event, providing materials for the students. Above left: President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos - Horta, Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral and UNDP Resident Representative, Finn Reske-Nielsen with UNDP Country Director (far right) Akbar Usmani.

International Prosecutors from Cape Verde and Portugal are welcomed by their national counterparts in the Office of the ProsecutorGeneral, Dili, 14th October, 2009

Produced by Public Information Officer, Justice System Programme For further information or suggestions please contact 3313583, [email protected] October 2009

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