Developing Environmental Law for All Citizens

On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste became a country. Its Constitution, which came into force on 20 May 2002, is based on civil law, with many similarities to Portugal\u27s legal system. The Constitution also laid the foundation for environmental law, which the government has been developing ever since. This overview of the development of environmental law in Timor-Leste describes the constitutional provisions that are the source of environmental law in the country; presents the policy basis for environmental law; reviews the legal instruments governing the environment that the government has adopted since 2002; introduces draft laws under consideration at the end of 2014; and highlights the initiative of the Ministry of Justice\u27s Legal Training Center to teach national environmental law to the legal professionals who will be the country\u27s future judges, prosecutors and public defenders