Rule of Law

During the Indonesian occupation, Timor-Leste used the laws of Indonesia as its primary legal framework. With the assistance of the former UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), several key regulations were put in place to assist Timor-Leste re-establish its independence. Following its re-emergence as an independent nation on 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste began promulgating its Constitution and started to develop its own legislative frameworks and jurisprudence. 

Over the intervening years, developments in this regard have included laws on the establishment of the organs of governance, citizenship, political parties, civil service, revenue system, petroleum development, internal security, immigration and asylum, health system, public prosecution and the presidential and parliamentary elections.