The representative of the Coalition for the Rights of Children, Honorio Almeida believes legal assistance provided to minors is inadequate and that most who are remanded in prison do not know who their lawyer is.
He said the law states that minors who commit criminal offences need to be given priority assistance to go through the legal process but in reality this is not happening.
“They should be getting adequate assistance from lawyers but this does not happen,” said Almeida.
He added it is important the minors know about their own legal process so they can have some certainty about their situation.
He added there needs to be clearer lines of coordination with the juvenile justice service that also needs to be strengthened so minors are adequately supported while moving through the legal system.
“We should fix the line of coordination mechanism between the entire components that work within the Juvenile Justice sector. It is important to ensure services are adequate for children who break the law,” he said.
Currently there are 24 minors awaiting sentencing for criminal offences at the adult prison in Becora, in Dili. Only four minors have been sentenced by the courts.
“Some were involved in cases of homicide, sexual violence, sexual abuse, theft and so forth,” he said.
Deputy Justice Minister Ivo Jorge Valente recognized this is an ongoing issue because there are limited numbers of public defence lawyers to take on cases.
The Vice Minister says he is pleased with the work of current public defence lawyers and the assistance they are providing to the prisoners.
“We only have 17 prison officers and 22 other staff. But the numbers [or prisoners] in Becora and Gleno prisons continue to increase,” said the Vice Minister.
