Feliciano da Costa Araujo (Jhano)

DTP alumnus Feliciano da Costa Araújo (Jhano) is the Executive Director of the Asosiasaun Hukum, Hak Asasi dan Keadilan (the Law, Human Rights and Justice Association) – better known to all as HAK.

HAK is Timor-Leste’s oldest human-rights NGO. It was established in 1996 by East Timorese activists as a legal aid office to support Timorese political detainees during the Indonesian occupation. It worked through the difficult years leading up to the 1990 vote for Independence – and since then, as Timor-Leste established itself as a leading democracy in ASEAN.

The Timorese struggle for independence shaped Jhano’s worldview as a teenager – and inspires his commitment to human rights for all and to solidarity.

Jhano is well known in Timor for his many years of service across NGO movements and for his dedication to defending people’s rights, especially those of marginalised people. He has worked closely with communities facing social stigma, including LGBTQIA+ and HIV-positive communities, and on gender and women’s rights and land rights for evicted people, among other issues.

Jhano participated in DTP as an experienced advocate and said DTP is a good program. He is proud that it was co-founded by the President of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos Horta. He agrees with the core values of DTP training to forge bonds and solidarity among regional human rights defenders.

“I remember twice we invited all of the DTP colleagues to visit HAK compound. We served food together, had dinner together. We shared ideas about the implementation of human rights in Timor-Leste, and they want to know about our struggle during the Indonesia occupation.”

Jhano also appreciates DTP curriculum that fosters practical transferable skills.

“I remember in our training, there was a UN rapporteur, who presented us how to write  reports to send to UN rapporteurs based in Geneva. That session was practical and fostered active learning. In that session we learnt more from the other colleagues too , especially the UN mechanism  and how to advance human rights advocacy. “

Jhano wants DTP to increase the number of young Timorese human rights advocates it is training.

“The young generation in our country, they come and ask me, questions like, Jhano, why cant we participate in the training? Maybe you can make the recommendation, I want to join.’

Jhano also advised DTP to actively consider organising a reunion of Timorese graduates.

When asked about his opinion on the current rights situation in Timor Leste, Jhano said that while he is proud of many rights in Timor Leste, he is also critical of Timor Leste not signing the UN Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. He is also critical of the government’s move to draft a defamation law despite civil society concerns about its contents.

His biggest worry is the growing gap between urban and rural areas in relation to poverty and understanding of human rights in Timor Leste. In Jhano’s view, this gap needs to be addressed, especially as Timor Leste will host the ASEAN Summit in 2029, following Timor Leste’s ASEAN membership in 2025.

“We need to think how rural Timorese can be prepared to participate in the open market of ASEAN.”

At the same time he is proud Timor-Leste joining ASEAN and what that could mean for others in ASEAN.  He hopes the Timorese can share their experience of democracy with other countries in the region.

Jhano attended DTP’s 32^nd  Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples’ Diplomacy Training Program in 2024.