Ermera: On 14 December 2022, the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, in collaboration with the Public Defender Office under Ministry of Justice inaugurated the Access to Justice Clinic building in the Emera municipality. This building will be used with the core objective of supporting the government of Timor-Leste through public defender, at the municipal level in particular the target municipalities in order to ensure that better services are provided to eliminate violence against women and girls from local level and to provide an effective response to cases of violence while victims prioritizing to access and coordinated multi-sectoral response (social services, health, security and justice).

The event was attended by Gov Institution, UN organizations and Representative of EU Ambassador UNDP Resident Representative Mrs. Adeline Carrier in her remarks emphasized that I am very happy that today we finally being able to inaugurate the Access to Justice Clinic in Ermera, this is a very important achievement for all of us to continue to support Public Defenders to ensure that the justice system can accessible to everyone, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups. In this regard, UNDP is also very proud, and it is our privilege to work together with the Ministry of Justice - Public Defender Office to continue maintain this strong partnership on Sustainable Development and its core principle “Leave No One Behind.").

Public Defender H.E Dr. Cancio Xavier on his speech he stated that we are very thankful to EU-Spotlight for great partnership on support built a Justice Clinic for Timor-Leste, as we may aware that there are numbers of violence cases been happening in municipal level, and victims find it difficult to bring the cases access to the legal and formal justice system due to barriers of distance to court house, and less of public transit. There for along with the Spotlight Initiative in support by EU we continue developed strategies to give wider and accessible space for local community to bring their access to the legal process in order to ensure that fair Justice and it’s valid for all people.

EU Ambassador Marc Fiedrich he highlighted that "The European Union is proud to support this life saving resource, hoping it will allow more survivors to get much needed care. By working in partnership with local authorities, another important step is taken to provide community wide support for those experiencing abuse.

This Ceremony was also attended by justice actors, government institutions from the national and municipality level, civil society organizations such as JSMP, ALFELA, Mane ho Visaun Foun and other CSOs including the local community and people with disability groups.

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Livio Xavier, Project Manager Spotlight Initiative-UNDP,Dili Timor-Leste, +670_77380151 ; livio.xavier@one.un.org

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 UN-EU in partnership with Government Institutions of Timor-Leste and CSOs is fighting to ensure that women and girls have total right to life free from violence and every form of discrimination in the country.

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