Africa-Press – Angola. About 60 percent of the actions carried out within the framework of the Local Development and Combating Poverty and Gender Promotion and Women’s Empowerment programs benefited women.
The national director for Family Policies, Equality and Gender Equity of the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Women’s Promotion (MASFAMU) stressed that the aforementioned programs, developed in the period from 2018 to 2021, covered a total of 76,258 people, from which 60% are women.
Santa Ernesto considered that this commitment by the Executive to direct certain development programs and fight against poverty to women represents the appreciation that is attributed to the role of this group of people in the family.
The national director added that, in the field of strengthening family skills, ten financial education campaigns were carried out, in partnership with the National Bank of Angola (BNA), for 2,737 people.
With regard to gender promotion and women’s empowerment, Santa Ernesto highlighted that the National Policy for Gender Equality and Equity was also created.
He said that the Executive, through MASFAMU, has carried out programs to enhance and reinforce family skills, such as the “Jango de Valores” projects and the “Conversas em Família” platform. The Ministry also launched a campaign against early marriage and pregnancy, said Santa Ernesto, adding that, in the field of violence, family counseling rooms and centers were created in the 18 provinces, where 4,263 cases of domestic violence were resolved.
A great achievement, he added, was the entry into force of the new Penal Code, which has a chapter aimed at crimes against the family. “Today, violence against women is a public crime and anyone can report it,” she recalled.
The national director also added that MASFAMU has several policies, the effective implementation of which requires the engagement of the whole of society, above all through the strengthening of partnerships with some organisations, in particular those capable of shaping families.
More featured places
Women occupy, more and more, prominent places in society, noted the national director for Family Policies, Equality and Gender Equity.
Santa Ernesto, who spoke of the conquests of Angolan women, in the 47 years of National Independence, recognized that meritocracy has been the main reference in the emancipation of women in Angola.
“We have a woman as Vice-President of the Republic, one as President of the National Assembly, a Minister of State and several ministers, in addition to governors, administrators and directors. We even have a blue helmet”, he underlined.
The national director for Family Policies, Equality and Gender Equity also praised the fact that the Constitutional and Audit Courts are presided over by women.
At Executive level, he added, the position of women has improved a lot, having reached 39% in ministerial positions, 23% as secretaries of State, 27.7% of governors and 27% as deputy governors.
Santa Ernesto recognized that, despite these gains, women are still struggling with several challenges, including gender stereotypes that prevent them from advancing.
As impeding factors, he pointed out domestic violence, especially in rural areas, some harmful cultural aspects that undermine human rights and women’s dignity, one of which is teenage marriage, early pregnancy and discrimination.
Despite acknowledging the achievements already achieved, the director said they were not yet satisfactory, it being necessary to continue to encourage women in training and continuous occupation of top positions in various areas.
Another aspect of emphasis, he said, should be women’s training and interest in more demanding and culturally competitive areas aimed at men, such as mechanics and engineering, where they can earn better pay.
Gains in Education
A considerable gain, he pointed out, is the number of women included in the education system. The only point to be overcome in this regard is the problem of girls dropping out of school, due to various factors.
“Today, the number of women inserted in education is positive. The big problem is the permanence of girls in school, sometimes, an early pregnancy, leads to removal from school, accentuating their condition of vulnerability”, he lamented.
Another evil that affects women, he explained, has to do with arranged marriages, an attack on their rights, with emphasis on early pregnancy, which he considered an attack on the health and life of the young woman.
“We consider that the minor’s organism is not yet prepared to receive a pregnancy, just as psychologically she is not prepared to be a mother and take over a home”, said Santa Ernesto.
He added that from a social point of view, early pregnancy reduces all possibilities for a woman to ascend, considering that when she is removed from school, she becomes a potential candidate for poverty, as well as the child that is born.
Best places
When comparing the position of women before and after Independence, Santa Ernesto said that they did not always occupy a prominent place. “Throughout history, her role has changed and she has taken on other roles, to the point that she is no longer just a housewife and has an essential place in society, through the strong commitment to professionalization”, she underlined.
Currently, he continued, Angolan women are in all sectors of social, political and economic life, exercising functions formerly carried out only by men, such as in the field of technologies.
“In Angola, today, women have reached the top, although there is still some discrimination, which is a barrier to their ascension”,said Santa Ernesto.
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