The United Nation Development Program (UNDP) will support the Justice Ministry to open legal aid offices in all 13 districts.
Justice Minister Dionisio Babo Soares said the program would begin as a pilot project and be expanded later.
He said he hoped the project would be running by next year.
Soares said the budget for the project was still under discussion.
Trial legal aid offices will first open in up to three districts before expansion.
The UNDP’s involvement would be short-term, he said, with assistance coming from the government in future, he said.
Member of Parliament Albina Marçal voiced her support for the program which she said would give access to the justice for Timor-Leste citizens.
“However the government needs to raise awareness of the offices so people know they’re there,” she said.
