2 December 2024, Austria/Timor-Leste - In the soft-lit plenary hall in the Vienna International Centre, Alexandre Faustino Freitas, Deputy Commissioner of Cooperation, Anti-Corruption Commission of Timor-Leste, sat at the edge of his chair, as he listened to delegates recount their countries’ successes in combating corruption.
His presence was unassuming but charged. He had fought for independence of Timor-Leste – someone who’d endured several years in the jungle and the government’s constant surveillance, a man whose entire sense of self was built in the struggle for a nation’s freedom.
Now, his hair streaked with silver, he is wearing a well-cut suit, yet there is something rebellious about him – the spark inside that fuels his fight – now – against corruption.
Timor-Leste recently celebrated 25 years of independence, which was a result of a UN-led referendum.
"Independence was not easy. We were imprisoned, constantly watched, but we kept pushing until we finally got independence. For me, that meant we had to protect what we fought for... That’s why, when asked, I joined the Anti-Corruption Commission without hesitation —because keeping our independence free from corruption is part of the struggle we began so long ago," said Alex.
“My passion is the prevention of corruption. I don’t want to see people go to jail or our resources spent unwisely, but to see our country maximize the limited resources we have for the benefit of the people.”
Timor-Leste was one of the first countries to sign the UN Convention against Corruption in 2003. “For us, as activists, it was a great joy to see our government valuing this convention, which meant we would take steps to keep corruption out of our country.”
“Establishing the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2009 and ensuring it remains independent is a core achievement that shows our commitment to this fight.”
“It [The Anti-Corruption Commission] is only accountable to the national parliament, so we have the freedom to investigate anyone—government members, parliament members, even high officials. This is crucial, as it means we aren’t subject to political influence, and we can fulfill our mission as outlined by the UN Convention [UN Convention against Corruption]. This independence is key to making sure we can pursue justice, regardless of who is involved."
“We know exactly where the enemy was when we fought for independence, but corruption is an invisible enemy, attacking us in ways that are hard to identify,” Alex explains further.
“Corruption is attacking us in a systematic way. It’s like we’re on bicycles trying to catch airplanes.
“That’s why we need unity in this fight."
Limited resources and capacity often strike at the core of anti-corruption efforts. Corruption eats away at progress in education, in infrastructure, in public services. Even if resources are allocated, they may not reach the people they are intended for. This undermines everything Timor-Leste and Alex have fought for.
“We are lucky, you know, that we have UNODC on our side. We invited UNODC; they came, and they helped us, brought us together to work on our anti-corruption law. We discussed for days and days in this series of meetings and workshops...it was a long, long process. But finally, we had an anti-corruption law, which is quite comprehensive."
This partnership continues, as plans for next year include UNODC support to empower Timor-Leste's anti-corruption investigators and work together to develop a new national anti-corruption strategy. Timor-Leste is also set to hold a country visit for its second cycle review under the Convention’s Implementation Review Mechanism.
“This invisible enemy, corruption, is something we have to fight everywhere. That is why we need to be united against corruption, together.”
Learn more about UNODC’s anti-corruption work: unodc.org/corruption
