Ministry of Justice publicly presents the Draft for the Children’s Code
On May 17, the Ministry of Justice made a public presentation of the Draft for a Children’s Code, at the Judicial Training Centre, in Díli.
“The 2010 Census results indicated that 50% of our population are children. Based on this, the Government will make an effort to protect and promote these childrens’ rights, creating favourable conditions for them because it is they who are going to take care of the country and the coming generations”, said the Minister of Justice, Lúcia Lobato.
Lúcia Lobato also added that this project’s presentation can raise other aspects that can improve specific points before it is presented to the Council of Ministers and submitted to the National Parliament for approval.
In this event, the UNICEF representative in Timor-Leste, Jun Kukita, said that the presentation of the Draft of the Childrens’ Code is a sign of compromise, on the Government’s side, to protect children and to make prevail their rights. She also reminded that in 2002 the Government of Timor-Leste signed the Convention on Children Rights and with that, committed to promoting, defending and protecting their rights.
The National Commissioner for Children Rights, Adalgiza Martins, also had the opportunity to state that “according to the Commission’s observations, the Timor-Leste Government has given one more step forward with this Draft Code that intends to protect children’s right”.
