Human rights in East Timor

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East Timor is a multiparty parliamentary republic with a population of approximately 1.1 million,[1] sharing the island of Timor with Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province. During the 24 years of Indonesian occupation (from 1975,) and after the 1999 independence referendum, pro Indonesian militias committed many human rights violations.[2] The country gained independence in 2002, and free and fair elections were held in 2007. The United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) and the International Stabilization Force remain in the country while it develops its own security forces, the National Police (PNTL) and Defence Forces (F-FDTL).[3]

There are a number of issues concerning civil and political rights including breaches of the right to a fair trial and freedom from arbitrary arrest. The delivery of economic, social and cultural rights is also a concern, such as the right to education, and the right to family life; there is little respect for the rights of women and children and domestic violence and sexual abuse are major problems.[3]

  1. ^ Government of Timor-Leste, [1], “2010 Census Results: Timor-Leste’s population grows slower than projected”, 22 October 2010.
  2. ^ Amnesty International, [2], “Timor-Leste; Justice Delayed, Justice Denied”, 2 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2010StateDepartmentReport was invoked but never defined (see the help page).