The Asia Foundation through the Nabilan program has provided training to Timorese judges in judicial ethics and independent justice as these two issues are important when bringing cases to the court.
TAF’s Nabilan Team Leader Shophia Cason, said the objective was to give Australian and Timorese judges the opportunity to share their experiences, as well as provide training in how to be independent and uphold judicial ethics on a daily basis, including in the decision-making process.
“The training is very important, particularly for decisions in cases involving women and children,” said Cason.
She said 30% of cases involving women and children have been resolved through the court system this year and the training would help judges make more effective decisions in the future.
Although the court system in Timor-Leste is generally functioning well, she said some aspects still needed improving, particularly in terms of the judgments handed down in domestic violence cases.
Cason said the perpetrators of domestic violence almost always received suspended sentences and this was not helping to reduce the prevalence of these cases.
“The community does not understand suspended sentences and when the suspects go home after their trial. They will think that nothing happens [to them] after the trial, [so] it will not stop them [committing crime),” she said.
She said this could affect public confidence in the courts and deter people from reporting cases to the police.
Meanwhile, National Judge Maria Natercia Gusmão believed the training would have a positive impact on Timorese judges and help them to better administer the court, analyze cases and make fair decisions.
“We need this training to be continued to help improve our knowledge and prepare ourselves to be good judges when making decisions in cases in our everyday practice,” she said.
She said an independent judicial system was a fundamental aspect for a democratic state.
However, she said that whilst administering justice and peace is easy; it is more difficult to deliver justice that is fair and of good quality in Timor-Leste.
“[This training] has taught us how to have capacity and ethics to lead the cases, make preferred decisions and [deliver] fair and quality sentences, as well as have instill good conduct in our private and public life,” she said.
She said developing the justice sector is very crucial and Timor-Leste must continue to work hard to strengthen peace and stability to ensure the rule of law prevails and to promote responsibility and transparency.
