Global Peace Index recognizes Timor-Leste as having a High State of Peace
Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Dili, June 5th, 2017
Global Peace Index recognizes Timor-Leste as having a High State of Peace
The Global Peace Index 2017, published on the 1st of June by the Institute for Economics and Peace, has recognized Timor-Leste as having a ‘High State of Peace’. Timor-Leste is grouped in this category along with countries such as Singapore, Norway and the UK and was ranked 53 out of 163 countries measured.
The Index reports that in 2008 Timor-Leste was in the Top 10 ‘At Risk’ countries according to their Positive Peace deficit model. Of those ten countries five have since seen deteriorations in peacefulness and two have fallen into conflict. Timor-Leste, in contrast has built and maintained peace, showing sustained progress in the index including a two-place rise in the ranking over the last 12 months.
Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “we should never underestimate the remarkable achievement of Timor-Leste in consolidating peace over these past ten years. We are one of only a few conflict-affected countries who have managed such a transition from fragility towards resilience.”
The Institute for Economics and Peace said “High levels of Positive Peace occur where attitudes make violence less tolerated, institutions are more responsive to society’s needs and structures underpin the nonviolent resolution of grievances.”
In the recent High Level meeting of the Global Conference on the 2030 Agenda held in Dili, interventions were made by the representatives of several g7+ countries that are currently in conflict. These highlighted the devastation experienced by countries in crisis and the critical need to achieve peace in order to alleviate the suffering of their people.
Minister Pereira said “we welcome this Index as yet another confirmation of our transition over the past ten years. The work of peacebuilding and statebuilding is not easy. It takes time and patience. But we are clearly moving along the right path and have made remarkable progress. This is a credit to the people of Timor-Leste and all who continue to contribute to creating and sustaining our peaceful society.”ENDS
