My respect to H.E. Dr. Amândio de Sá Benevides, Minister of Justice,

Sr. Delfio Alves, National Director of Prison Services and Social Reintegration,

Dr. Cancio Xavier, Public Defender General, 

Sr. Eusébio Salsinha, President of Municipal Authority Ermera,

Honourable national authorities,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Improvement of prison conditions for women is an international human rights issue. We must ensure the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family including those who are incarcerated.

Globally, most crimes are committed by men; women constitute only a small minority of incarcerated populations worldwide. Women are only 2–9 percent on average in national prison populations. In Timor Leste, the average is 4%

However, studies in some countries have shown that the number of female prisoners is increasing at a faster rate than that of male prisoners. Economically disadvantaged women are increasingly likely to be detained pretrial, due to their inability to afford bail or the services of a lawyer. In many countries, the proportion of women held in pretrial detention is equivalent to, or larger than that of convicted female prisoners. 

With the increase of the female prisoner population worldwide the necessity to bring more clarity to particular considerations - which should apply to the treatment of female prisoners and ways in which they should be addressed in prison - has acquired particular importance and urgency. 

Recognizing the need to provide global standards with regard to the treatment of women offenders and prisoners, the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) were adopted on 21 December 2010. 

The Bangkok Rules address a long-standing lack of standards, reflecting the specific characteristics and needs of women offenders and prisoners. The Rules oblige States to develop non-custodial sanctions and to ensure gender-sensitive treatment in prisons. 

Today UNDP is proud to gather - with the Minister of Justice, the National Director of the Prison Services and Social Reintegration, the Director of Gleno Prison, and the representative of the Office of the Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justica - to inaugurate the newly renovated and refurbished women's block. 

We believe that this renewed facility will provide a stable and secure environment for the women who share it and will be a symbol of the unwavering dedication to the principles of justice, gender equality, and human rights of the Timor Leste government, as well as a reaffirmation of its commitment to a more just and equitable society for all Timorese.   

Obirgado barak.