Timor-Leste Launches National Action Plan to Prevent and Counter Trafficking in Persons (2026-2030), and Commemorates World Day against Trafficking in Persons

Date: Wednesday, 30 July 2025

[Press release]

Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

From Left to right – Representative from Timor-Leste Police Development Programme, National Director of the Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police Dr. Vicente Fernandes, National Parliament Member Mr. Antonio Verdial, Head of UN Women Timor-Leste Ms. Nishtha Satyam, Vice Minister for Institutional Strengthening, Ministry of Justice Mr. Paulo Remédios, Secretary of State for Civil Protection Mr. Domingos Mariano Reis, President of the Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons Mr. Honório Aureliano Soares Magalhães, IOM Chief of Mission Ms. Jewel Ali, Timor-Leste’s Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice Mr. Virgílio da Silva Guterres, and Director General of the Secretary of State of Equality Mr. Armando da Costa – Launching the National Action Plan to Prevent and Counter Trafficking in Person. Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

English | Tetum

Dili, Timor-Leste — The Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons (KLATU), with support from UN Women, launched its National Action Plan to Prevent and Counter Trafficking in Persons 2026-2030, presenting a national roadmap to promote Timor-Leste’s inter-agency efforts to prevent and respond to trafficking in persons (TIP). Over 90 representatives from the KLATU, line ministries, civil society organizations and development partners attended the launch.

The new plan aims to prevent TIP, prioritize protection of survivors through services and assistance, ensure effective prosecution and strengthen collective efforts among all stakeholders to combat trafficking. The plan was developed through consultations from January to June 2025 with around 600 individuals from all 13 municipalities and Special Administrative Region of Oecusse Ambeno, including law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), local community and leaders, faith-based leaders, and person with disabilities to ensure inclusion and representation of diverse voices into the plan.

“Grounded in the international 4-Pillar framework: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnerships, the five-year NAP calls for targeted investments and urgent actions to strengthen inter-ministerial coordination and cross-sectoral collaboration to raise community’s awareness of trafficking, ensure accountability through effective justice mechanisms, and deliver comprehensive, survivor-centered protection and support, particularly for women, children, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and others at heightened risk,” said H.E. Mariano Assanami Sabino, the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs.

Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

From Left to right – President of the Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons Honório Aureliano Soares Magalhães, Commissioner Angelica Racardina de Fátima from Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police, Commissioner Alfredo Abel from Migration Services, Commissioner Sandra Carvalho Salgueiro from Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police , Commissioner Lídia Soares from the Office of Prosecutor-General, Commissioner Atanasia Pires from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Commissioner Ana Paula Marçal from NGO Programa Monitorizasaun Sistema Judisiál, Commissioner Florencio Pina Dias from Ministry of Social Solidary and Inclusion, Commissioner Marcelina Amaral from NGO ALFELA, and Commissioner Mouzinho Tavares Correia from Timor-Leste National Police. Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is a country of source, transit and destination for migrant workers. TIP is a continuum of gender-based violence and gender inequality, compounded by numerous sociocultural, structural and institutional factors. It is contributed by the high vulnerability and exposure of women and girls (and men and boys) to sex trafficking, Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and labour exploitation. Despite the prevalence of anecdotal and reported cases, underreporting remains a critical barrier. Persistent stigma and fear of retaliation experienced by survivors, gaps in institutional capacity and inadequate protection systems, and limited data also constrain the efforts to combat trafficking.

“The KLATU, through the leadership of Ministry of Justice in collaboration with 13 representatives from government institutions and CSOs, reaffirms its commitment to counter trafficking through the NAP, which is rooted in national, regional and global commitments. These include the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, the Programme of the IX Constitutional Government, the Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030, and 2011-2030 Strategic Plan for Justice Sector, and key legislative instruments such as Law 3/2017 of January 25 on Prevention and Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Fourth Amendment to the Penal Code (Law 3/2017), the Penal Code (Decree-Law 19/2009 of April 8 as amended), Law 11/2017 of May 24 on Migration and Asylum, and Decree-Law No. 9/2021 of June 30 establishing the Commission”, said Mr. Honório Aureliano Soares Magalhães, President of the Commission.

“TIP constitutes a serious violation of basic human rights, undermining human dignity and social justice. In Timor-Leste, vulnerable groups such as women, children, youth are particularly at risks - this vulnerability is compounded by economic hardship and poverty, limited employment and education opportunities, insufficient knowledge and information about safe migration, and low awareness of associated risks and rights.

Furthermore, the joint consultation found an increasing use of digital technologies including social media platforms to target, recruit, deceive and exploit potential victims. UN Women stands committed to supporting Timor-Leste in promoting community-based prevention and strengthening institutional capacity in responding to trafficking”, said Ms. Nishtha Satyam, UN Women Head of Office in Timor-Leste.

For further information

UN Women Timor-Leste
Jeremias Gomes
Women, Peace and Security Programme Officer
UN House Caicoli, Dili, Timor-Leste | Email: [ Click to reveal ]

Flora Wai Shan Chan
Governance, Peace and Security Programme Analyst
Email: [ Click to reveal ] | Facebook: UN Women Timor-Leste

Ministry of Justice
Mr. Honorio Aureliano Soares Magalhães
Director-General for Justice Policy and President of KLATU
Mobile: +670 7851 0697 | Email: [ Click to reveal ]

Mr. Crisogno da Costa Neto
Tékniku Profesionál
Mobile: +670 7723 0148 | E-mail: [ Click to reveal ]

Timor-Leste Lansa Planu Asaun Nasionál Hodi Prevene no Kontra Tráfiku Umanu (2026-2030), no Komemora Loron Mundiál Kontra Tráfiku Umanu

Loron: 30 fulan-Jullu 2025

[Komunikadu Imprensa]

Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

Husi Karuk ba loos – Reprezentante husi Programa Dezenvolvimentu Polísia Timor-Leste nian, Diretór Nasionál ba Polísia Sientífika Investigasaun no Kriminál Dr. Vicente Fernandes, Membru Parlamentu Nasionál Sr. Antonio Verdial, Xefe UN Women Timor-Leste Sra. Nishtha Satyam, Vise Ministru Fortalesimentu Institusionál, Ministériu Justisa Paulo Remédios, Sekretáriu Estadu Protesaun Sivíl Sr. Domingos Mariano Reis, Prezidente Komisaun Luta-Anti Tráfiku Umanu Sr. Honório Aureliano Soares Magalhães, Xefe Misaun OIM nian Sra. Jewel Ali, Provedór Direitus Umanus no Justisa Timor-Leste nian Sr. Virgílio da Silva Guterres, no Diretór Jerál ba Sekretáriu Estadu Egualdade nian Sr. Armando da Costa – Lansamentu Planu Asaun Nasionál hodi Prevene no Kontra Tráfiku Umanu. Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

English | Tetum

Dili, Timor-Leste — Komisaun Luta Kontra Trafiku Umanu (KLATU), ho apoiu husi UN Women, lansa ona ninia Planu Asaun Nasionál Hodi Prevene no Kontra Tráfiku Umanu 2026-2030, hodi aprezenta mapamentu nasionál ida atu promove esforsu interajénsia Timor-Leste nian atu prevene no responde ba tráfiku Umanu (TU). Partisipa iha lansamentu ne'e reprezentante liu ema nain 90 husi KLATU, liña ministériu sira, organizasaun sosiedade sivíl no parseiru dezenvolvimentu sira.

Planu foun ne'e ninia objetivu mak atu prevene TU, fó prioridade ba protesaun ba sobrevivente sira liuhosi servisu no asisténsia, asegura prosesu ne’ebé efikáz no hametin esforsu koletivu entre parte interesada hotu-hotu atu kombate tráfiku. Planu ne'e dezenvolve liu husi konsultasaun husi fulan Janeiru to'o Juñu tinan 2025 ho ema na'in 569 husi munisípiu 13 no Rejiaun Administrativa Espesiál Oecusse Ambeno, inklui ajénsia ezekusaun lei, Organizasaun Sosiedade Sivíl (OSS), komunidade no lider lokál sira, lider konfisaun relijioza sira, no ema ho defisiénsia sira atu asegura inkluzaun no reprezentasaun perspetiva oioin iha planu ne’e.

"Bazeia ba pilar-4 husi enkuadramentu internasionál nian: Prevensaun, Protesaun, Prosekusaun no Parseria, PAN ba tinan lima ne’e apela investimentu ne’ebé espesífiku no asaun urjente sira atu hametin koordenasaun inter-ministeriál no kolaborasaun intersetoriál hodi hasa'e komunidade nia konxiénsia kona-ba tráfiku, asegura responsabilidade liuhusi mekanizmu justisa ne'ebé efikáz, no oferese protesaun no apoiu ne'ebé komprensivu no sentradu ba sobrevivente sira, liuliu ba feto, labarik, ema ho defisiénsia sira, traballador migrante sira, no sira seluk ne'ebé iha risku aas liu," dehan Vise Primeiru Ministru, Ministru Koordenadór ba Asuntu Sosiál, S.E. Mariano Assanami Sabino.

Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

usi karuk ba loos – Prezidente Komisaun Luta-Anti Tráfiku Umanu Honório Aureliano Soares Magalhães, Komisária Angelica Racardina de Fátima husi Polísia Sientífika no Investigasaun Kriminál, Komisáriu Alfredo Abel husi Servisu Migrasaun, Komisária Sandra Carvalho Salgueiro husi Polísia Sientífika no Investigasaun Kriminál, Komisária Lídia Soares husi Gabinete Prokuradór-Jerál, Komisária Atanasia Pires husi Ministériu Negósiu Estranjeiru no Kooperasaun, Komisária Ana Paula Marçal husi ONG Programa Monitorizasaun Sistema Judisiál, Komisáriu Florencio Pina Dias husi Ministériu Solidaridade Sosiál no Inkluzaun, Komisária Marcelina Amaral NGO ALFELA, no Komisáriu Mouzinho Tavares Correia husi Polisia Nasional Timor-Leste. Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste mak nasaun ida-ne'ebé sai fonte, tranzitu no destinu ba traballador migrante sira. Tráfiku Umanu nu’udar tipu violénsia bazeia ba jéneru no dezigualdade jéneru, ne'ebé agravadu husi fatór sosiokulturál, estruturál no fatór institusionál barak. Ida ne'e kontribui husi vulnerabilidade no espozisaun aas husi feto no labarik-feto sira (no mane no labarik-mane sira) ba tráfiku seksuál, Esplorasaun Seksuál Komersiál (ESK) no esplorasaun traballu. Maske iha prevalénsia ba kazu anekdotál no kazu sira ne'ebé relata ona, subnotifikasaun (aktu husi la relata) nafatin hanesan bareira krítiku ida. Estigma no ta'uk ba retaliasaun ne'ebé sobrevivente sira hasoru, lakuna sira iha kapasidade institusionál no sistema protesaun ne'ebé la adekuadu, no dadus limitadu mós limita esforsu atu kombate tráfiku.

"KLATU, liu husi lideransa Ministeriu Justisa nian, liu husi kolaborasaun ho reprezentante 13 husi instituisaun governu no Organizasaun Sosiedade Sivil sira, reafirma ninia kompromisu atu kontra tráfiku liu husi PAN ba TU, ne'ebé ho abut husi kompromisu nasionál, rejionál no globál sira. Ida-ne'e inklui Konstituisaun Repúblika Demokrátika Timor-Leste, Programa Governu Konstitusional IX nian, Planu Estratéjiku Dezenvolvimentu 2011-2030, Planu Estratéjiku Setor Justisa 2011-2030, no instrumentu lejizlativu prinsipál sira hanesan Lei 3/2017 loron 25 fulan-Janeiru kona-ba Prevensaun no luta hasoru tráfiku umanu no alterasaun dahaat ba Kódigu Penál (Lei 3/2017), Kodigu Penál (Dekretu-Lei 19/2009 loron 8 fulan-Abril hanesan altera ona), Lei 11/2017 loron 24 fulan-Maiu kona-ba Migrasaun no Asíliu, no Dekretu-Lei n. 9/2021 loron 30 fulan-Juñu ne'ebé estabelese Komisaun," dehan Prezidente Komisaun, Sr. Honório Aureliano Soares Magalhães.

"TU nu'udar violasaun sériu ba direitus umanus, hamenus dignidade umanu no justisa sosiál. Iha Timor-Leste, grupu vulnerável sira hanesan feto, labarik, foin-sa'e sira mak partikularmente iha risku - vulnerabilidade ida-ne'e agravadu husi susar ekonomia no kiak, oportunidade empregu no edukasaun ne'ebé menus, koñesimentu no informasaun ne'ebé la sufisiente kona-ba migrasaun ne'ebé seguru, no konsiénsia ne'ebé ki'ik kona-ba risku no direitu ba migrasaun. Nomós, konsulta konjunta ne'e deskobre katak utilizasaun teknolojia dijitál ne'ebé aumenta hanesan plataforma média sosiál sira atu atinje, rekruta, lohi no esplora vítima potensiál sira. UN Women nafatin kompromitidu atu apoia Timor-Leste hodi promove prevensaun ne’ebé bazeadu iha komunidade no reforsa kapasidade institusionál hodi responde ba tráfiku," dehan Reprezentante UN Women iha Timor-Leste, Sra. Nishtha Satyam.

Atu hetan informasaun liután

Ministériu Justisa

Sr. Honorio Aureliano Soares Magalhães
Diretór-Jerál ba Polítika Justisa no Prezidente KLATU
Nú. Telemovel: +670 7851 0697 | E-mail: [ Click to reveal ]

Sr. Crisogno da Costa Neto
Tékniku Profesionál
Nú. Telemovel: +670 7723 0148 | E-mail: [ Click to reveal ]

Sr. Jeremias Gomes
Ofisiál Programa Feto, Pás no Seguransa

UN Women Timor-Leste

UN House Caicoli, Dili, Timor-Leste,
Email: [ Click to reveal ] | Facebook: UN Women Timor-Leste

Sra. Flora Wai Shan Chan
Governance, Peace and Security Programme Analyst
UN Women Timor-Leste, UN House Caicoli, Dili, Timor-Leste
Email: [ Click to reveal ] | Facebook: UN Women Timor-Leste