DILI, 08 July 2026 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta, inaugurated this Wednesday in Dili the IV International Congress of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, organized in partnership with IBDFAM and EMERJ. In his capacity as patron of the event, the Head of State highlighted that hosting this meeting in Timor-Leste represents a historic milestone in strengthening the ties of the Lusophone world.
In his speech, he underlined his deep conviction that the law and democratic institutions must always be at the service of the people, with a special focus on defending human dignity and protecting the most vulnerable populations.
During the address, the President gave particular emphasis to the themes of family, as well as the protection of women and children. In this regard, Ramos-Horta championed the importance of Timor-Leste swiftly concluding the necessary formalities for the country’s full integration into the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
The Head of State considered this an essential and urgent step to reinforce the protection of children’s rights, prevent child trafficking and exploitation, and ensure Timor-Leste’s alignment with the highest international standards of child protection.
Finally, the Head of State addressed the major challenge of ensuring access to justice in communities located furthest from urban centers. Pointing to the Brazilian program “Justiça Itinerante” (Mobile Justice) from Rio de Janeiro as a strong inspiration, Ramos-Horta argued that the State must proactively reach out to its citizens.
The President also reiterated that this modernization of the judicial system can and should be adapted to the Timorese reality, harmoniously coexisting with traditional community conflict resolution mechanisms, thereby strengthening social peace, democracy, and trust in institutions.
TATOLI
