Launch of Police Training Manual on Human Rights

14 June 2005: The United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL), in collaboration with the Government of Timor-Leste, is set to launch a Police Training Manual on Human Rights for national police officers.

The Police Training Manual will be launched tomorrow (Wednesday, 15 June) by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Sukehiro Hasegawa, the Minister of Interior, Rogerio Lobato, the Minister of
Justice, Domingos Saramento, PNTL Commander, Paulo Martins, and the Secretary of Defence, Roque Rodrigues.

Since the establishment of PNTL in 2000, the United Nations and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste have been working together to ensure that human rights training is an integral part of the national police force's work.

The Police Training Manual - titled Serve and Protect, which represents the motto of PNTL - has been designed for use in training new recruits in the Police Training College as well as for ongoing field training of officers
throughout Timor-Leste.

"The new manual - the first of its kind to contribute to enhancing the human rights knowledge and skills of PNTL - reinforces the clear message that the best way to serve the people of Timor-Leste is by protecting their human rights," said SRSG Hasegawa.

"I am delighted that we are able to launch such an important tool as UNOTIL, the Government as well as all other working partners continue their commitment to help strengthen the capacity building capabilities of PNTL,"
he added.

The examples in the Police Training Manual have all been taken from the real life experiences of the people of Timor-Leste as well as PNTL officers who were extensively consulted during the preparation process. The manual has also been produced in Tetum.