Children born as a result of sexual abuse by the Indonesian military during the occupation currently have difficulty obtaining official birth certificates and according to the Executive Director of HAK, this is discrimination

The Executive Director of HAK Rogerio Vicente Viegas said when the Indonesian military invaded Timor-Leste, a lot of Timorese women were forced to become their wives and finally their children are currently finding it difficult to access RDTL birth certificates.

"We cannot discriminate against our sisters that in the past had children from the military, because this is a consequence of war and our law does not facilitate access for victims to official documents," said the Executive Director recently in Farol, Dili.

He added they cannot access official documents like electoral cards, RDTL certificates, passports and identity cards because they do not have a baptism certificate and or their parents wedding certificate.

He also recommended the Council of Ministers should develop a policy to respond to these concerns or create a decree law about civil registrations that recognise situations like these.

"This happened not because the victims wanted it but because they were forced," said the Director of HAK. He added HAK would continue to advocate for the government, especially the Ministry of Justice, to look into the issue so they can have rights like other citizens, as this issue is a big concern for victims.

In relation to this issue, the Director of National Civil Registration Dili District, Vitor da Costa Neto said although the documents (baptism certificate, electoral card, parents electoral card or parents wedding certificate) were part of the criteria to get official documents, there were exceptions.

"All people have different conditions, that's why for children born from militaries that invaded Timor-Leste and also those who's fathers do not take responsibility, we will have a declaration that applicants can fill out about the identify of the mother or father to get a RDTL certificate," said Director Neto.

Director Neto said they would require people to attach the wedding certificate, but for those with unmarried parents or with single mothers, there was a declaration for fathers that applicants could fill out to represent their parents' identity to pass on to the registration list.

However he said if a person has their fathers name on their baptism certificate, there's an obligation to put the father's name on the RDTL certificate even if the father doesn't take responsibility.