Timor-Leste’s Human Rights Association (Hak) is urging the upcoming new VIII Government to allocated funds to build a juvenile detention facility because young offenders continue to be incarcerated with adults in crowded prisons.
HAK Director Manuel Monteiro said nowadays young and adult prisoners get equal treatment as there are limited conditions,but young offenders require support to change their mindset and develop into good adults.
He said at Becora prison,even though young offenders live in a separate block they will share the same facilities and environment as the adult population.
“We need to keep them apart so we can implement education programs including formal schooling. They do this overseas,” he said.
He added the right to access a formal education is guaranteed by Decree LawNumber 14/2014 onthe execution of the Penal Code.
He hopes the Early Election 2018 will bring into office a strong and lasting government that can give this issue due attention and that can establish a juvenile prison.
According to 2018 data, out of 719 prisoners, 19 are young offenders aged 16 to 21 years of age, in for a range of crimes committed.
The National Director for Prisons and Social Services at the Ministry of Justice, Helder Cosme Marçal Belo, saidthe Justice Sector Strategic Plandefines clearly in written that youths who break the law must be remanded in a separate facility to the adult population.
He said there is already a plan, land has been identified as well as the design and BOQ, but so far no budget had been allocated.
“We are waiting for a decision from the government because we have many priorities in this country, but the State must look at this priority we have,” he said.
He informed also that even though formal education programs have not been delivered at the prisons, there are partners and civil society organizations that continue to provide vocational training and life skills to inmates.
