The official launch of Timor-Leste’s application to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, for the period 2024 to 2026, took place on July 26th, 2022, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Dili.
The application process was initiated last year, and in January 2022 the application was formally presented in Geneva. With this ceremony, Timor-Leste now officially kicks off its campaign to collect support for this application.
The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, members of the Government, the Prosecutor General of the Republic, José da Costa Ximenes, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and international organisations and relevant national entities.
If elected, this will be the first time Timor-Leste participates as a member of the Human Rights Council, contributing to the promotion of human rights through mutual respect and dialogue. The promotion and protection of human rights is a priority for Timor-Leste, both nationally and internationally.
The Human Rights Council is the body set up by UN member states to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.
There are 47 countries on the United Nations Council, elected directly and individually by secret ballot by a majority of the members of the General Assembly. Membership is based on an equitable geographical distribution, and seats are allocated as follows among the regional groups: African Group of States (13); Asian-Pacific Group of States (13); Eastern European Group of States (6); Latin American and Caribbean Group of States (8); and Western European and other States (7).
The decision on the elected countries will be known in October 2023.