Local Justice in Timor-Leste: Barriers to Access at the Community Level
Most people in Timor-Leste resolve their justice problems outside of formal state-based courts and resort to local justice systems. While local justice systems are considered faster and more understandable for people and communities than court proceedings, important barriers still limit access to local justice. This report offers a justice ecosystems approach that acknowledges the diverse ways people access justice, and details some of the risks and opportunities to engage with local justice systems. It makes recommendations on how to ensure better protection of human rights in local justice systems, and how fostering better coordination and coherence between the courts and local justice systems could improve access to justice for all.
