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23 August 2002




Statement by Mary Robinson,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
to the National Parliament of the Democratic Republic of East Timor



Your Excellency, Mr. Francisco Guterres, President of the Parliament, Distinguished
Parliamentarians,
Honoured guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a singular honour for me to be invited to address you today in this, the first National Parliament of the independent state of the Democratic Republic of East Timor.

As you well realise, yours is both a great responsibility and an honour as you lead the people who elected you in the challenging task of State-building. I recall that when I last spoke here in Dili, in August 2000, I referred to the key role of political leaders, tasked with both the development and upholding of laws and the nurturing of a pluralist, tolerant and non-discriminatory society. I applaud you now for the manner in which you have begun to address these challenges.

At the outset allow me to add my voice to those from all over the world who have congratulated you on the extraordinary work undertaken over the past two years in preparation for independence. A major undertaking in that period was the process of drafting a constitution.. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the text incorporates some of the main international human rights principles and places specific emphasis on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a basis for interpretation of the Constitution.

Turning to your legislative responsibilities, I am aware of the challenges faced by new states in having to adopt, very rapidly, significant numbers of often complex laws, all of which are vital. I appreciate your endeavours in this regard and your awareness that the legislation that you enact in this early stage of your existence as a sovereign state will form the legal foundation for the future development of this country. I had the pleasure one week ago in Geneva of welcoming Sergio Vieira de Mello, who came for a briefing from me and my colleagues in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. As you know on 12 September, he will take over responsibilities of High Commissioner and because I was coming to Timor Leste we discussed this country together. And you can be assured that the new High Commissioner will give great priority to this country in the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

I understand one draft bill you have before you concerns Judicial Magistrates. I wish you well on this important task and offer any technical assistance my Office can provide. Laying a legal foundation which will protect the independence of the judiciary at this early stage of the nation’s development is essential if you are to avoid problems which exist in many other countries, where the judiciary has lost the reputation for impartiality and independence and is seen as representing particular interests, rather than the whole society.

I rejoice in the significant progress that has been made in rebuilding East Timor since my last visit. The change is testimony to the positive commitment on the part of the East Timorese people and its leadership to re-build a nation. And to rebuild it not only through the reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure, but also through the rebuilding of communities, families and individual lives.

I am fully aware of your important responsibilities to those who elected you and the heavy parliamentary work programme you face. But I believe you would be first to acknowledge that much work still requires to be done in the firm establishment of a society committed to the promotion and protection of all human rights for all people. Just after this meeting today I will have the honour to sign, with representatives of Government, civil society and the United Nations, a Human Rights Joint Communiqué, which sets out a master-plan for the next steps which will be required. I invite you to study closely this text and to employ it in your own deliberations and programme of legislative enactment.

Please permit me now to turn to some specific considerations:

I understand that the Government of East Timor is considering acceding to the core international human rights treaties and may present the instruments of accession on 27 September when the country becomes a member of the United Nations. This momentous initiative will undoubtedly reinforce the rebuilding process of East Timor and facilitate the incorporation of human rights into the foundation of the country’s development.

Given the recent history of human rights violations against East Timorese people and denial of their fundamental freedoms, it is vital that East Timor embraces human rights at an early stage in its development and seeks to ensure that the country’s laws, policies, programmes and institutions are founded on international human rights standards. Acceding to the international human rights treaties is one step in the process of developing a human rights culture. Additional steps along the way must include:
Enacting laws that are based on international human rights standards,

Strengthening the judicial system to guarantee judicial independence, the rule of law and access to justice for all,

Building capacity throughout the judicial and administrative systems,

Establishing an independent monitoring mechanism such as the Office of the Provedor provided in Article 27 of the Constitution,

Developing institutions founded on human rights principles, and

Establishing priorities through, for example, the elaboration of a national plan of action on human rights.

It is only by taking such definitive steps that human rights will be effectively guaranteed, protected and promoted in East Timor.

Distinguished Parliamentarians,

As you carry out all work, I encourage you to keep in mind that human rights are universal, indivisible and inter-connected. This means that all rights - civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights – are equally important and are all inter-related. It is therefore insufficient to respect some rights and leave others aside, or to speak out against some violations and remain silent in the face of others. I urge you, East Timor, to embrace all human rights and take measures to deepen the participation of the people as you build a nation based on the fundamental principles of human rights. As you go through this, special emphasis must be placed on vulnerable and marginalised groups in society including women, children, along with the elderly and disabled as well as religious and ethnic minorities.

As you embrace your responsibilities and continue to realise all human rights for all in East Timor I can assure you that my Office, working with UNMISET, is ready to continue to cooperate with you to the largest extent possible. Indeed, I am pleased to inform you that preparations are well advanced for the launching of a new two-year programme of human rights technical cooperation to be implemented by my office and UNMISET in close coordination and cooperation with the Government. This programme will seek to respond to the needs indicated to the United Nations by East Timor and in a spirit of implementing the contents of the Joint Communiqué.

In conclusion, I offer the best wishes of both myself and my Office. East Timor, as the newest member of the international community, is in a unique position to show the world how best to lay the foundations for a vigorous culture of human rights built on a democratic society. This is your challenge. We are your partners.

Thank you.



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