UNICEF Timor-Leste

Earlier this month, 80 participants from the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Art and Culture (MoYSAC), Youth Centers, Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs), and youth organizations joined a Training of Trainers sessions on state budget process, jointly launched by MoYSAC, the Ministry of Finance, and UNICEF. This Training of Trainers is a follow-up to the July 2025 launch of the State Budget Module, which is designed to strengthen youth participation in Timor-Leste’s budget development process. Mr. David Tomas de Deus, Director General of Youth, emphasised MoYSAC’s commitment to integrate budget literacy into Youth Center outreach programs across all municipalities, ensuring rural youth understand and engage in the annual budget process. Soumen Ray, Chief of Social Policy with UNICEF, highlighted the importance of budget literacy and civic engagement to empower youth to understand and participate in public financial management and national governance. Mr. Frendito, National Director of Planning, from the Ministry of Finance, noted that this training equips young people to advocate for fair budget allocations, especially in rural areas. ©UNICEF Timor-Leste/2025/NASoares Soumen Ray  

Thanks to support from the People’s Republic of China and UNICEF, BTL has connected two communities to the Municipality’s main water source — bringing safe water closer to over 223 households from the Planato and Boru-baha sub village under Baucau Municipality. This is a game-changer for families who have for long faced challenges in accessing clean and safe water, especially during climate-induced dry spells. Under the project “Emergency support to children in response to floods and COVID-19 in Timor-Leste”, 2,000 households across four municipalities, (Dili, Ainaro, Ermera and Baucau), are gaining sustained access to water, sanitation and hygiene — helping protect children from preventable diseases. UNICEF China Patrizia Di Giovanni Teija Vallandingham Andrew Brown Jingjie Yang

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Today is Global Handwashing Day!  Handwashing with soap is one of the simplest, most effective ways to prevent illness and keep children healthy.  Clean hands save lives — and every child deserves a safe, clean and healthy environment. #unicef #foreverychild

When girls are empowered to lead, entire communities thrive. 💪📚 UNICEF, in partnership with the Government, is working in communities across Timor-Leste, to ensure every girl has the chance to grow, lead, and shine. 🌟   #DayOfTheGirl #GirlsLead #UNICEF #GirlGoals

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 We celebrate the power, potential, and promise of every girl — championing their rights, amplifying their voices, and investing in their futures. 💙 When girls are empowered, they build a better future for themselves and for the world. 🎥 Watch this video celebrating the many potentials of girls in Timor-Leste. Our Right, Our Voices, Our Goals. #GirlGoals #DayoftheGirl #IDG2025 Patrizia Di Giovanni

On World Mental Health Day 2025 today, Ms. Patrizia DiGiovanni, UNICEF Country Representative for Timor-Leste reminds young people that taking care of our mental well-being is as important as taking care of our physical health. She also announces the start of the Youth-led Mental Health Audio Challenge—an initiative that UNICEF is implementing in partnership with Spotify, using digital platforms to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health in Timor-Leste. Watch the video until the end. #OnMyMind #WMHD2025 Patrizia Di Giovanni

Today is World Mental Health Day 2025   Children and young people worldwide face growing mental health challenges, and emergencies make it even harder to cope.   UNICEF and partners urge governments to put mental health at the heart of all responses, so every child can heal and thrive.   #OnMyMind #WMHD2025

The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSSI) with support from UNICEF are conducting a 5-day training for 30 justice professionals and social actors across the country on the Law on Protection of Children and Youth in Danger. Thirty more participants will join next week. Adopted in 2023, this landmark law protects children and youth from violence. The training was officially opened by H.E, Dr. Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, Minister of Justice, with the presence of H.E Verónica das Dores, Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion; H.E Dr. Afonso Carmona, President of Court of Appeal; Dr. Jacinto Babo, Deputy of Prosecutor General; Dr. Cancio Xavier, Public Defender General and Patrizia DiGiovanni, UNICEF Country Representative to Timor-Leste. This training is being rolled out across the country, with this phase focusing on justice professionals. The objective is to strengthen the Multi-Agency Approach and Coordination in Implementing the law, especially on court procedures and referrals between justice and social sectors. This is part of UNICEF’s efforts to strengthen the child protection system in the country by ensuring all relevant service providers are fully trained on how to implement the Law on Protection of Children and Youth in Danger.  ©UNICEF Timor-Leste/2025/JTalimeta Patrizia Di Giovanni Suman Khadka, PhD