The European Union, Portuguese Cooperation and partners in Timor-Leste mark the conclusion of national training within the scope of PACED and reinforce the computer integration of the East Timor Judicial and Legal Training Centre

Within the scope of PACED - Project to Support the Consolidation of the Rule of Law in the PALOP and Timor-Leste, the ceremony to present the final reports of the 3rd phase - evaluation - of the national training courses, developed in the different PACED partner countries by the Judicial Studies Centre (CEJ) and the Institute of Judicial Police and Criminal Sciences (IPJCC), was held in the Ministry of Justice Auditorium, in Díli.

The training activities developed under PACED benefited more than 2,500 national staff from the six partner countries and involved more than 8,450 participants. Following these training actions, a pool of trainers was set up, which includes 44 national trainers from the different PACED partner countries, 8 of whom are from Timor-Leste.

The opportunity was also taken to make a symbolic delivery of computer equipment to the East Timor Legal and Judiciary Training Centre (LJTC) to equip its virtual rooms to ensure full use of distance teaching and learning systems using the new information and communication technologies. This activity is part of the wider support provided by PACED, in response to the needs of Timorese national partners and following the regular collaboration with various Timorese authorities, which also include the Laboratory of the Criminal Investigation Police, the Court of Appeal, the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Financial Intelligence Unit. 

The ceremony was chaired by the Minister of Justice of Timor-Leste, Tiago Amaral Sarmento, with the participation of the Ambassador of the European Union in Timor-Leste, Andrew Jacobs, the Ambassador of Portugal in Dili, Manuela Bairos, the President of the Court of Appeal, Deolindo dos Santos and the Prosecutor-General, Alfonso Lopez.

PACED, which is expected to last until June 2022, has a budget of US$10.15 million: US$8.46 million funded by the European Union and US$1.69 million by Camões - Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, I.P., which manages the project.

PACED arises within the scope of the Multiannual Regional Program (PALOP-TL) existing between the European Union, its Member States and the PALOP/TL, and its objectives are the affirmation and consolidation of the Rule of Law in the PALOP and in Timor-Leste, as well as the prevention and fight against corruption, money laundering and organized crime, in particular drug trafficking. Its intervention focuses on actions designed to build the institutional capacity of the competent authorities at legislative, executive and judicial level, promoting the exchange and sharing of knowledge and good practices.