DILI, 31 july 2023 (TATOLI)- UN Women and Minister of Interior (MoI) together with eight government institutions and also one of the Civil Society Organizations launched a Platform of National Mediation Network Timor-Leste to promote the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
The Head of UN Women Timor-Leste, Amy Nishtha Satyam said the launching of the National Mediation Network in Timor-Leste is very important to promote inclusive community justice for all people, including women and the most marginalized communities, regardless of the economic and social challenges of formal legal resources.
“The National Mediation Network Timor-Leste brings together mediators to follow the national mediation guidelines to solving disputes cases at the community level. We are very proud to get support from the Minister of Interior for launching National Mediation Network in Timor-Leste,’’ The Head of UN Women Timor-Leste, Ms. Amy Nishtha Satyam told Journalists in Timor Hotel, Colmera, this Monday.
The mitigation process will be focused on community issues such as land disputes, water, household issue, and others that are unsolved and sometimes escalate into national attention.
“UN Women is committed to supporting government institutions and national non-government organizations in providing technical and financial support for the prevention of community issues across Timor-Leste,” she said.
While, Francisco da Costa Guterres, Minister of the Interior said these platforms seek to help the conflict parties understand and value the perspective of the other party, empowering them to make their own successful decisions.
The National Mediation Network will contribute to facilitating the mediation process of conflicts that occur in the community including working together as a force of the state and as a key critical resource that will be ready at any time when necessary.
“The role of the National Mediation Network will be part of conflict resolution in Timor-Leste and will work closely with the Conflict Prevention Network which has been more responsible for conflict management and prevention in Timor-Leste since 2014,’’ The minister said
Thus, The Ministry of the Interior together with line ministries composed of the Ministry of Justice, Public Defenders, the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, the Ministry of State Administration, PDHJ, the Community Police-PNTL and SoSVTE, and the Non-governmental Organization Belun.
36 mediators are coming from the eight government line ministries and one of the Civil Society Organization (BELUN) and currently, they are working across the territories of Timor-Leste.
Ministry of the Interior, with the support of UN Women, has invited the mediators and negotiators who are under the ASEAN portfolio and have worked in collaboration with the Global Alliance (a platform of mediators and negotiators in the world).
“We hope that with the existence of this mediation network, we will be able to strengthen coordination through training and learn better from practice with other senior mediators from different countries who have experienced negotiation and mediation in special missions in conflict countries.”
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
