Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Dili, February 1st, 2017
Government participates in International Conference on Fighting Corruption
The Government is participating in an international conference on fighting corruption being held at the Noble Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on the 2nd and 3rd of February. The conference, organized by the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Justice, Public Administration, Local Power and Anti-Corruption, carries the theme The Commitment of the Parliament to Prevent and Fight Against Corruption versus Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees.
At the conference the Minister of State, Coordinator of State Administration Affairs and Justice and Minister of State Administration, H.E. Dionísio Babo Soares, will contribute to a discussion on Public Policies to Prevent and Combat Corruption. He will also lead the Closing Session of the Conference on the afternoon of the 3rd of February.
The President of the Government’s Legislative Reform and Justice Sector Commission, Dr. Jorge Manuel Ferreira da Graça, will moderate a session on Defining the Criminal Responsibility of Political Office Holders and the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The President of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Dr. Adérito Pinto Tilman will moderate a session on Criminalization of Illicit Enrichment and the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
Key participants from Timor-Leste include senior judicial actors, Members of Parliament, lawyers and academics. Honored international guests from Indonesia, New Zealand and Portugal and will be contributing their expertise. The organizers state the conference has two general objectives, first to “strengthen the interest of citizens and encourage the determination of competent institutions in decision making and implementation of measures aimed at preventing and suppressing corruption” and secondly to “raise the level of knowledge of citizens regarding the content of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and its relationship with the national legal order.” Timor-Leste signed the United Nations convention in 2003 and ratified it in 2009.
Government Spokesperson, Minister of State Agio Pereira, congratulated the conference organizers noting “the Government is pleased to be participating in the discussions this week and to have an opportunity to listen to a range of stakeholders and experts. Minimizing corruption and maximizing accountability, transparency and good governance are critical to the development of Timor-Leste.”ENDS