From 2021 and for three years, the UNTL Human Rights Centre will host the project "Promoting Children’s Rights Education at the National University of Timor-Leste".

Building upon the successful collaboration established between the Global Campus of Human Rights and the National University of Timor-Leste in the creation of the UNTL Human Rights Centre in Dili with the support of the European Union, this new project aims to develop capacities to establish a new specialised curricular subject on children’s rights for selected Faculties (Education, Law and Medicine). The project mainly involves training programmes for lecturers, development of curriculum and teaching tools, outreach and events.

Children's rights education was highlighted as one of the priority areas for cooperation by the National University during the mapping and consultation undertaken by the Global Campus. Recognizing that Timor-Leste has a strong record in human rights, but still experiences severe difficulties in the protection of children's rights (malnutrition, education, child labour...), the University is committing to train qualified human resources who will be able to address this pressing issue.

Since 46,4% of the population in Timor-Leste is below 18, this project has a significant potential to offer a transformative contribution; ti also demonstrates the outstanding commitment of the UNTL in continuing the mainstreaming of human rights education, targeting the most pressing social issues in the Timorese society.

The project is being implemented from January 2021 to December 2023 by the Global Campus and the UNTL Human Rights Centre team, in close collaboration with the local authorities and initiatives undertaken by international organisations and civil society dealing with children rights in the country. It is supported by Right Livelihood.