Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, participated, on September 30th, 2024,in the official launch of the Mobile Birth Registration campaign, held at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, in Dili. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and representatives of partner entities. 

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with several national and international entities, aims to ensure children's fundamental right to birth registration, allowing parents across the country to register their children in a more accessible way, especially in remote areas. The program covers children aged 0 to 5, contributing to strengthening the national birth registration system.

During the ceremony, the Minister of Justice stated that “birth registration is a fundamental right of all children, which gives them a legal identity before the State, guaranteeing them access to basic rights, such as education, health and protection against abuses”, stated Minister Sérgio Hornai.

The President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, praised the joint effort of the Government and its partners, such as UNICEF, Japan and Australia, in supporting this campaign. “This initiative demonstrates the commitment to ensuring that each Timorese child has their right to name, nationality and identity guaranteed from birth”, said the Head of State. 

With the motto “Register your child now to guarantee your rights”, the campaign runs from October 1^st to December 20^th, 2024, covering five municipalities: Ermera, Liquiçá, Baucau, Viqueque and Dili. During this period, it is expected to register around 15 thousand children.

UNICEF's interim representative in Timor-Leste, Ainhoa ​​Jaureguibeitia, highlighted that birth registration is essential not only to ensure access to fundamental services, such as health and education, but also to protect children against abandonment, marriage early childhood and child labor. “Birth registration is a crucial step to guarantee full compliance with children’s rights,” he declared.

This campaign is part of the Government's ongoing effort to strengthen registration systems and ensure that all children born in the territory have their citizenship status legally recognized, thus contributing to the development of a more inclusive and equitable society.