DILI, 10 february 2022 (TATOLI) – The Timorese Ministry of Justice (MoJ) formalized the candidacy of Timor-Leste (TL) for membership of the Human Rights Council of Nations United Nations for the period 2024 and 2026.
“We have already formalized our candidacy for membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The board will then weigh in to make a final decision scheduled for next year. We have to work with determination to obtain the greatest number of support from other countries, including this council”, revealed the Minister of Justice, Manuel Cárceres, at the Government Palace.
According to the official, not only the CPLP countries maintain their support for the country’s candidacy, but also other countries on the Asian continent.
“As for the campaign, it will only take place next year”, he said.
The minister recalled, however, that Timor-Leste presented its candidacy on 27 january. “The candidacy that we presented in Geneva is not limited to just one person, but to the State in general”, he concluded.
This candidacy, now formalized by Timor-Leste, is the first after the restoration of independence in 2002.
It is recalled that the Council of Ministers had on april 14, 2021 approved the country’s candidacy to be a member of the Human Rights Council.
The Human Rights Council is made up of 47 elements, elected by the majority of the UN General Assembly States for a three-year term, while the remaining countries maintain observer status”, said recently the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Magallanes.
The minister also stressed that “the distribution of seats” is based on fair geographic representation – 13 from the Group of African Countries, 13 from the Group of Asian Countries, seven from the Group of Eastern European Countries, eight from the Group of Latin American Countries and from the Caribbean, and seven from the Group of Western European Countries and others.
Previously, Timorese government approves candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafy Belo
