Policy Brief

Highlights

[English text below]
Informasaun badak ne'e mai husi konsultasaun ho foin-sa'e ho defisiénsia sira, Organizasaun Ema ho Defisiensia sira (OED), Ministeriu Juventude, Desportu, Arte no Kultura (MJDAK), no dadus nasionál sira atu identifika obstákulu no oportunidade sistemátiku boot sira atu responde ba problema hirak-ne'e.

"Timor-Leste asina no ratifika Konvensaun Nasoins Unidas kona-ba Direitu Ema ho Defisiénsia (UNCRPD) iha Novembru 2022, ne'ebé tama iha vigór iha 23 Janeiru 2023, hodi subliña ninia kompromisu ba inkluzaun defisiénsia. Maske nune'e, joven ho defisiénsia sira nafatin ladún reprezenta signifikativamente iha foti desizaun no falta reprezentasaun iha sistema edukasaun, empregu, saúde no protesaun labarik.

Barreira sistemátika boot ne'ebé identifika inklui estigma no diskriminasaun, ambiente no servisu sira ne'ebé la asesivel, apoiu limitadu ba defisiénsia no teknolojia asisténsia, invizibilidade iha sistema dadus nasionál sira, no oportunidade mínimu ba partisipasaun sívika.

Atu hatán ba dezafiu hirak-ne'e, halo ona rekomendasaun iha área prioridade neen:

* transforma atitude liuhusi kampaña sira ne'ebé foin-sa'e sira lidera;

* ezekuta asesibilidade iha ambiente fíziku no dijitál;

* habelar servisu desentralizadu no responsabilidade juventude;

* haforsa sistema dadus dezagregadu kona-ba defisiénsia;

* loke dalan ba edukasaun inkluziva no empregu;

* no hasa'e mekanizmu protesaun no foin-sa'e sira lidera OED sira atu asegura partisipasaun ne'ebé signifikativu.

Polítika badak ida-ne'e hatutan fila-fali katak investimentu iha adolexente no foin-sa'e ho defisiénsia sira sai hanesan pasu importante ida ba dezenvolvimentu inkluzivu, ekuitativu Timor-Leste nian no pasu importante ida atu haforsa lideransa no mudansa sira iha futuru.

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This brief draws from consultations with young people with disabilities, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MoYSAC), and national data to identify major systemic barriers and opportunities to address them.

“Timor-Leste signed and Ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in November 2022, which came into effect on 23rd January 2023, emphasizing its commitment to disability inclusion. However, young people with disabilities remain significantly underrepresented in decision making and lack representation across education, employment, health, and child protection systems.

Major systemic barriers identified include stigma and discrimination, inaccessible environments and services, limited disability support and assistive technologies, invisibility in national data systems, and minimal opportunities for civic participation.

To address these challenges, recommendations have been made in six priority areas:
• Transforming attitudes through youth led campaigns;
• enforcing accessibility in physical and digital environments;
• expanding decentralized and youth responsive services;
• strengthening disability disaggregated data systems;
• opening pathways to inclusive education and employment;
• and enhancing protection mechanisms and youth led OPDs to ensure meaningful participation.

This policy brief reiterates that investing in adolescents and youth with disabilities is a critical step toward Timor-Leste’s inclusive, equitable development and a vital step toward empowering the future leaders and changemakers.