UNDP: Australian Contribution to the UNDP Justice System Program

UNDP Press Release Australian Contribution to the UNDP Justice System Program 12/June/2009 - As a sign of their strong commitment to the long-term development of Timor-Leste's state institutions and to improving rule of law and access to justice, on 11 June the Australian Government announced their contribution of AUD$1 million to the UNDP Justice System Programme.

This significant contribution, which will allow for many important programme activities to be undertaken in 2009 and 2010, comes at an important time for the UNDP Justice Programme given that the new project document was signed in December 2008 by the national judicial authorities and the Programme is now restructuring and expanding its activities over the next five years.

The Australian funds will be used to increase the current level of support to the judiciary and to support the development of national capacity within the Courts, the Prosecution and the Ministry of Justice through the Public Defender's Office, Prison Services and the Legal Training Centre.

"We are very pleased to receive this support from Australia, who has been a constant partner in strengthening capacity of the justice sector. We are grateful to Australia for this contribution and hope that other partners will follow in scaling up their assistance particularly to the prison service component. An effective judicial system including the correctional part will be vital for the stability of the country" said the UNDP Resident Representative, Finn Reske-Nielsen.

The UNDP Justice System Programme is supported by Australia, Brazil, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNDP Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery.