News
Equipping the Frontlines: ADB Training Enhances Timorese Police Investigations of Violence against Women and Girls
In partnership with Timorese police, ADB trained 119 police officers to improve the treatment of women and children participating in police investigations. ADB experts taught the proper use ADB-donated digital recorders, trauma-sensitive questioning, and applicable legal and socio-cultural protocols to the police officers, enabling them to obtain admissible testimony with the least amount of distress to survivors and witnesses. A key part of ADB’s broader support to justice-sector reform in Timor-Leste, this initiative aims to improve access to justice and safeguard vulnerable voices.
ADB Equips Timorese Judges, Prosecutors, and Police Officers with Tools to Facilitate Access to Justice for Victim-Survivors of Violence against Women and Girls
ADB has been working with the Timor-Leste government to make justice more accessible for victim-survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) since 2021. On 25 April 2025, ADB supplied audio recorders and privacy dividers to prosecutors, and judicial and police officers, enabling them to interview victims-survivors and witnesses of GBV—especially women and girls—in a manner that better respects their privacy, reducing the emotional trauma caused by questioning. ADB also provided judges with a knowledge resource on adjudicating GBV cases and on reducing the difficulties faced by women and girls in the formal justice system.
ADB Trains Fijian Public Defenders on the Fiji Bench Book on Children
On 3–16 March 2025, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted a series of workshops based on Parts A and B of the Fiji Bench Book on Children for 108 Legal Aid Commission (LAC) lawyers. Parts A and B of the Fiji Bench Book on Children serve as a guide for dealing with children coming before the courts in criminal proceedings, including child complainants and witnesses.
ADB Trains Fijian Prosecutors on the Bench Book on Children
On 12–18 December 2024, ADB conducted a comprehensive training program on the Fiji Bench Book on Children (Parts A and B) for Fiji's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
ADB Launches Judicial Training on Fiji Bench Book on Children
On 20–23 August 2024, in Suva, ADB and UNICEF delivered a comprehensive judicial training program on the Fiji Bench Book on Children. The entire Fiji judiciary participated in the training, supported by ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program.
Asian Development Bank Trains Justice Officers in Timor-Leste to Effectively Investigate Cases Involving Violence Against Women and Girls
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) partnered with Timor-Leste's Public Prosecution Service to deliver a comprehensive training program on investigating cases involving violence against women and girls (VAWG). This initiative is part of ADB's ongoing effort, through the Law and Policy Reform Program, to strengthen the country's judicial system's response to VAWG.
Timor-Leste Prosecutor-General and Asian Development Bank Launch Groundbreaking Handbook to Combat Gender-Based Violence
In a major step forward for the country, Timor-Leste’s Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) unveiled the Handbook on Investigation of Gender-Based Violence Offenses for the Public Prosecution Service on 31 May 2024.
ADB Supports Training against Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace for Fiji Women Lawyers Association (FWLA)
Robyn Layton, Adjunct Professor, Justice & Society, University of South Australia and Judicial Education and Development Consultant for the ADB Law and Policy Reform Program, conducted a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) presentation to the Fiji Women Lawyers Association (FWLA) on Harassment and Bullying in the workplace.
ADB Hosts Discussions with Timor-Leste Prosecutor General on Gender Sensitization and Gender-Based Violence
ADB hosts high-level discussions with the Timor-Leste Prosecutor General after the conclusion of trainings for the entire Timor-Leste prosecution service on gender sensitization and gender-based violence (GBV) cases, from 14-21 August 2023.
ADB Launches Training for Timor-Leste Prosecutors on Gender-Based Violence Case Handling
In partnership with the Timor-Leste Superior Council of Public Prosecutors, ADB launched the first series of customized trainings for Timor-Leste prosecutors on gender sensitization and effective handling of gender-based violence (GBV) cases on 14 August 2023.