A/HRC/42/37/Add.2 Nations administration, Timor-Leste achieved self-determination in political terms and became an independent State on 20 May 2002. 8. During colonialism and occupation, the concept of indigenousness was associated with being “uncivilized”. In 1930, Portugal adopted the Colonial Act and applied it to its colonies. The law officially distinguished between indigenes (indigenous Timorese) and não indigenes (this included whites, mestiços and assimilados). One could gain assimilado status, for example, by learning Portuguese, doing military service and having “good character”.2 The stigma and divisions caused by the application of such terminology has left a long-standing legacy in Timor-Leste. 9. During the national liberation movement in the 1970s, terms formerly considered derogatory, such as maubere (people of the dirt), were used as a rallying cry for independence by the educated elite of mestiços and assimilados. 3 In contrast, today the same term maubere is associated with the rising desire to reclaim indigenous traditions and increased pride in indigenous culture and identity. A growing movement towards selfidentification as indigenous is taking place in the country. The Special Rapporteur notes that unlike indigenous peoples in many other countries, the Timorese have since independence truly been able to self-determine their future and to govern themselves, and are doing so with ample consideration of the importance of preserving traditional practices. 10. During her visit, the Special Rapporteur observed that at times the colonial bias against their own culture inherited by some Timorese has impacted on the development of inclusive and culturally adequate national policies by Timorese authorities. The recognition by politicians and policymakers of the importance of indigenous traditions, customary governance and rights is vital in ensuring an inclusive national unity in the future. 11. Timor-Leste is characterized by the strength and diversity of its more than 30 indigenous cultures and languages, which have been retained throughout colonization and occupation. The vast majority of the country shares indigenous values and spiritual beliefs which are reflected in strong local institutional structures, customary justice and collective land management. The Special Rapporteur notes that, as most Timorese are indigenous, she addresses key human rights issues that affect the majority, including poverty, health and education. 12. Indigenous concepts such as lisan (customary law and practices) and lulik (sacred/spiritual/forbidden) form an integral part of and regulate everyday life for the vast majority of the population, providing guidance both on the relationship between people and between people and nature. The notion of lulik as an indigenous spiritual moral order exists in different terms in all languages in Timor-Leste and its main objective is to ensure peace and tranquillity in society.4 13. Social organization is based on family and clan membership. Uma lulik (sacred houses) play a key role for Timorese spiritual and societal structures. While discouraged during Indonesian occupation, since 2002 indigenous identity is being reinvigorated and the construction of uma lulik is rapidly increasing. Government officials told the Special Rapporteur that they estimate that there are currently about 5,000 uma lulik across the country. Lia Nain (traditional leaders, “owners of words” in Tetum) exercise community authority on spiritual and traditional law matters. 14. The current population is approximately 1.3 million. Timor-Leste has one of the youngest populations in the Asia and the Pacific region, with a median age of 17.4 years. Some 70 per cent of Timorese live in rural areas and practise subsistence farming and fishing. Government sources emphasize the diversity of indigenous groups in Timor-Leste, reflected in the multitude of indigenous languages and cultural practices. 5 Tetum speakers, 2 3 4 5 M. Leach, Nation-Building and Nationality in Timor-Leste (Routledge, 2017), chaps. 2 and 3. L. Palmer and A. McWilliam, “Ambivalent ‘indigeneities’ in an independent Timor-Leste: between the customary and national governance of resources”, Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 2018. J. Trindade, “The core values of Timor-Leste”, conference paper presented at Communicating New Research on Timor-Leste, third Timor-Leste Studies Association conference, 2011. See www.timorleste.tl/east-timor/about/people-culture/. 3