A series of public meetings held across East Timor about the country's justice system culminated recently in a three-day National Dialogue on Justice held in Dili. Opened by President Xanana Gusmao, the Dili sessions attracted capacity crowds to hear speakers and moderators from the top levels of all the county's major justice institutions. All the discussions were broadcast live by national radio and television. The meetings at the district and national levels were organized by the Office of the President with support from The Asia Foundation.

Among the participants were the president of the Court of Appeals, the prosecutor general, the public defender, the minister and vice minister of justice, the vice president of Parliament, and the chairman of the Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation. The sessions focused on three basic issues:

• the current state of the nation's justice system
• the role of justice systems in society, including traditional and local dispute resolution processes
• the structure and purpose of the prison system.

However, debate and discussion were not limited to these three topics, and lively exchanges on a variety of issues took place. At the end of the sessions, participants offered a range of recommendations in four areas: legislation, investigation, implementation processes, and human resources. For example, many participants agreed that there is a need to create statutes for judicial institutions to establish competencies and to regulate interaction between judicial institutions and other branches of government. The government should ensure that the prison system adheres to human rights principles. Alternatives to prison terms are also needed, such as community service or fines.

Many participants applauded the ongoing efforts to translate laws used in East Timor into Tetum, one of the official languages. Many reaffirmed the need for more private lawyers and for a government effort to inform local communities across the country about new and amended laws. They also strongly recommended that the government study and regulate the use of traditional and local justice systems. A booklet detailing all the recommendations will be published and distributed by the Office of the President.

In partnership with The Asia Foundation, USAID supports national dialogue process. It is an integral part of The Asia Foundation's work to enhance East Timor's emerging justice system, raise public awareness and understanding of how the system works, and facilitating informed public participation in legal development efforts.