Luanda - The secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on Friday lifted, with immediate effect, Angola's suspension from this trade.
The representative recalled that violence against women and girls is a concern, reflecting inequality rooted in social and discriminatory roles.
Denise António spoke at the workshop on gender-based violence, held on Thursday, in Luanda, with the aim of collecting contributions for the report of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women ( CEDAW).
“Together we can build a future where every woman and girl in Angola can realize their full potential and contribute to the country’s inclusive and sustainable development,” she said.
In her view, the country has made significant progress in implementing the many recommendations, having mentioned, as an example, the review of the Domestic Violence Law.
She highlighted, however, that Angola still faces challenges in implementing other recommendations, such as the adoption of a more comprehensive Law to prevent, combat and punish all forms of violence against women and girls.
She considered it essential to make greater investment in the expansion of shelters, specialized units for violence issues, police stations, as well as hospitals throughout the country.
She made it known that, among the priorities of the United Nations, are the prevention and combat of domestic violence worldwide, particularly Africa.
She noted that to date, 98 percent of member states have committed to fulfilling, protecting and respecting women's rights, which includes eradicating all forms of gender-based violence in their countries.
At the event, the Secretary of State for the Family and Promotion of Women, Alcina Kindanda, said that at the international and regional level, Angola has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Protocol to the African Charter on Women's Rights, as well known as the Maputo Protocol, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
She reported that during the period of 2023, the country recorded a total of 8,056 cases of domestic violence, whose victims were 6,420 women and 1,636 men, aged between 11 and 80 years.
This year, from January to March, 332 cases of domestic violence were treated at the Family Counseling Center (CAF) – Maianga, of which 36 were men and 296 were women.
She also highlighted that a total of 4,572 children suffered violence, with the highest incidence being evasion of fatherhood, with 2,020 cases, physical, psychological and sexual violence.
To reverse this situation, he said that the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women developed a proposal to review the Law against Domestic Violence, with the aim of aligning the aforementioned Law with other legal instruments, such as the Penal Code. JAM/OHA/DOJ
