Summary

Non-signatory Timor-Leste adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2008, but has not taken any steps to accede to it. Timor-Leste last participated in a meeting of the convention in 2011. It voted in favor of the key United Nations (UN) resolution promoting the convention in December 2021.

Timor-Leste is not known to have used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

Policy

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Timor-Leste has not taken any steps to join the convention. In the past, government officials have indicated that resource constraints and other priorities were preventing the initiation of internal processes necessary for Timor-Leste to join.[1]

Timor-Leste participated in the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and joined in the consensus adoption of the convention text in Dublin on 30 May 2008. However, it did not sign the convention at the Oslo Signing Conference in December 2008. Timor-Leste attended a regional conference on cluster munitions in Bali, Indonesia in November 2009.

Timor-Leste participated as an observer at the convention’s meetings until 2011.[2] It was invited to, but did not attend, the Second Review Conference held in November 2020 and September 2021.

In December 2021, Timor-Leste voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution urging states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.”[3] It has voted in favor of the annual UNGA resolution promoting the convention since it was first introduced in 2015.

Timor-Leste has also voted in favor of UNGA resolutions condemning use of cluster munitions in Syria.[4]

Timor-Leste is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Timor-Leste is not known to have used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

Policy

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 May 2003 and became a State Party on 1 November 2003. The New Penal Code of East Timor Law No. 19/2009, Article 127, enacted on 8 April 2009, provides for criminal sanctions as required under Article 9 of the Mine Ban Treaty.[1]

Timor-Leste has not attended any recent meetings of the treaty. It did not attend the Third Review Conference in Maputo in June 2014. On 22 June 2004, Timor-Leste submitted its initial Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report, due 28 April 2004, but has not submitted subsequent annual reports.

Timor-Leste is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons. It is also not party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Timor-Leste has residual unexploded ordnance contamination.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpile

Timor-Leste has never used, produced, exported, or imported antipersonnel mines, including for training purposes.

The last explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste were reported in 2011, when three casualties were identified: two civilian men were killed and one critically injured while handling unexploded ordnance they had uncovered.[1] Prior to this, ERW incidents were recorded in 2000 and 2003.[2] The Monitor has identified nine ERW casualties in Timor-Leste between 1999 and 2011.

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste had a limited legal and policy framework for providing assistance to persons with disabilities, including victims of mines/ERW.

Several domestic laws and regulations also provided disability assistance, especially in the areas of employment, education, and social assistance.[1] Of note, the Statute of the National Liberation Combatants (Law 9/2009) outlined special consideration for veterans with disabilities, including free access to prosthetic services.

The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) was the principle government body responsible for managing disability assistance within the state.[2]

In 2010, the MSS established the “National Strategy for Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR),” in line with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).[3] It did not explicitly provide protections or create institutions. The CBR strategy was supported by additional national policies in mental health, integrated community health services, and education.

Accessibility to buildings and vocational training for persons with disabilities were identified as key challenges.[4]

Timor-Leste has not ratified the CRPD.