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Timor-Leste
Asisténsia Legál ba Feto no Labarik (ALFeLa) ALFeLa has a unique position
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Asisténsia Legál ba Feto no Labarik (ALFeLa)
ALFeLa has a unique position within Timor-Leste’s legal system to influence and advocate how Timorese laws and their implementation impact and reflect upon the experience of women and children as victims. Article 25 of the LADV enshrines a victim’s right to a lawyer or public defender at all stages of the judicial process. The National Action Plan on Gender-based Violence, passed by Government in 2022, outlines the need to establish a specialised legal aid service for women and children victims. While a Public Defenders office has been established in Timor-Leste, their primary area of expertise at this stage is in representing defendants and a conflict of interest will arise where they represent a victim and aggressor in the same case.
ALFeLa’s primary focus on women and children is rooted in the recognition that these groups are disproportionately affected by violence. To address this, ALFeLa actively involves male leaders, judicial actors, and influential individuals in training efforts, aiming to engage key stakeholders and promote advocacy campaigns that drive change.
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