- Project name: Justice System Programme (JSP) 3rd phase
- Implementing institutions: UNDP
- Agreement partner: UNDP
- Project period: 2009 - 2011
- Total budget: NOK 19 million
The Free From Harm: Building Child Justice and Welfare Systems for Children 2009-2010 aims to increase the protection of children’s rights in Timor-Leste by building robust child protection systems at national and community levels that prevents and responds to violence, abuse and exploitation of children and enhances access to justice for all children. The Government of Norway and UNICEF have collaborated since 2006 to strengthen the rights of children in Timor-Leste.
The project has contributed towards the establishment of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child in October 2009, which has begun fulfilling its role to advocate, promote and defend the rights of children in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Ministry of Justice is in the process of finalizing the Juvenile Justice Law and Children’s Code, which were drafted through a strong participatory approach of consultations among different stakeholders, including youth. The Vulnerable Persons Unit of the National Timor-Leste Police has been handling investigations on child abuse and juvenile justice cases using child protection rules and protocols and establishing Child-Friendly Interview Rooms that have been set up in 9 out of 13 districts, with plans to reach all. The Ministry of Social Solidarity has also appointed Child Protection Officers in each of the 13 districts to provide case management, social service support and community awareness activities to respond to cases involving child victims of violence, abuse and exploitation. As part of improving the referral and response system, the Child Protection Officers have the support of the district-level Child Protection Networks and the national level Child Protection Working Group whose members are from various line agencies. Under the programme, mechanisms are also being strengthened to facilitate registration of children at birth, which includes working closer with local government and Chefe suko (village chiefs) and the different ministries such as justice, education and health, to make registration easier for parents. These efforts are all geared towards intensifying the protection of children in Timor-Leste.
www.tl.undp.org for additional Information