Early life and career of late Isabel Ferreira

DILI, 19 june 2023 (TATOLI)— Late Isabel da Costa Ferreira, the wife of former Timor Leste president and Current Prime Minister, was a jurist, human rights activist, and politician.

Isabel da Costa Ferreira was born on 15 April 1974 in Same Manufahi Municipality.

Ms. Ferreira turned 49 years old the last April 2023. She was a lawyer, politician, former deputy, and a female candidate in the 2022 presidential election and she was the First Lady of Timor Leste from 2012 to 2017.

Isabel da Costa Ferreira and Taur Matan Ruak married in May 2001 and the couple has three children, one boy and two girls.

She went to formal education in a Catholic basic school from 1980-1987, she continued her Junior High School in Dili, from 1987-1990. She studied at Senior High School, in Liceu Dili, 1990-1993.

From 1993 to 1998, she went to National University in Denpasar Bali and graduated with a degree in Law.

Late Isabel held various positions starting from General Coordinator of ONG Kontras East Timor (1998-1999); Director of CDHTL-Comissão de Direitos Humanos Timor-Loro Sa’e (1999-2001);

Became a People’s Representative and Member of the Constituent Assembly (September – October 2001, Deputy-Chairman of the CVTL (Timor-Leste Red Cross) 2002-2005, Human Rights Advisor to the Prime Minister 2002 – 2006.

Deputy Minister of Justice from August – December 2006, Member of the Truth and Friendship Commission, between Timor-Leste and Indonesia 2005 -2008, Chair of the Supporting Commission Secretariat of the PNTL Promotion (2009-2010); Chairman of the Extraordinary Commission for Promotion in the PNTL (2012 – March 2014).

Chairman of the Promotion Process Monitoring Commission at PNTL (2010-2012); Commissioner of the State Civil Apparatus Commission (2011-2014); SES Legal and Policy Advisor – Secretary of State for Security (February 2009 to February 2015); Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs (February 2015 to June 2015);

Child Advocate and Advisor to the Minister of Education (September 2015 to August 2017); Head of Working Cabinet Former President of the Republic Major General Taur Matan Ruak (June 2017 to June 2018); Advisor to the Secretary of State for Civil Protection since August 2018.

In addition, Ms. Isabel Ferreira was active in organizational and institutional activities such as Chair of the Timor-Leste National Paralympic Committee (26 April 2019 -2021); Founder of the Quesadhip Ruak Center, domiciled in Taibessi, Dili, Timor-Leste (2012-2021); Member of Citizens’ Peace-loving Circle (August 2017-July 2021).

She was the Chair of ACTTL – Associação dos Conjuges dos Titulares de Timor-Leste (2014-2017); ASSOFAC Founder: Former Combatant Families Association (22 November 2009); Border Management Council Installation Committee Coordinator (2009-2010);

Coordinator of the PNTL Additional Agreement Negotiation Committee (2009-2010); Member of the Security Sector Reform Committee (2009-2010); Member of the High Council of the Ministry of General Affairs (2006-2011); Member of Komnas HAM (2005-2006); Coordinator of the Working Group on the National Action Plan on Human Rights (2003-2006).

Member of the Working Group on the Establishment of the Missing Persons Commission (2005); Coordinator of the Working Group on the Drafting of Laws on the Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman and activities related to its establishment (2001-2005); Member of the Working Group for Drafting the Former Combatant Law (2004-2005) and Member of the Permanent Group of Government and Church (2005)

She was invited to participate as a keynote speaker at various international seminars and conferences in various countries such as Australia, China, South Korea, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Portugal, and Timor-Leste.

Thus, she was taken part in International Conference on Border Management in Thailand (2010); the International Conference at the Institute of Federalism, in Switzerland. The intervention focuses on “The Role of the United Nations and Agencies in Post-Conflict Countries (August 2002).

She was invited to the International Conference on Missing Persons, in Jakarta/Indonesia (2001). Interventions focused on this issue as well as on the human rights situation in Timor-Leste; Attended the Timor Resistance National Council Conference, on the post-Referendum situation, in Darwin/Australia (October 1999).

She participated in the framework of the Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva/Switzerland (April 1999). The intervention focuses on human rights violations under the Indonesian occupation.

She was invited to the Timorese Resistance National Council Conference, on Human Rights violations in Timor-Leste, held in Melbourne / Australia (April /1999).

Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá

Editor: Nelia B.