Africa-Press – Angola. The Minister of the Interior, Eugénio Laborinho, reaffirmed this Thursday, in Geneva, Switzerland, the political commitment of the Angolan Executive in favor of the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees.
The government official, who was speaking at the plenary session of the 2nd Global Forum on Refugees, reiterated the task of continuing to work on implementing programs aimed at more sustainable international protection and assistance for refugees in Angola.
Likewise, it recognized the collective responsibility of States to promote the implementation of lasting solutions for all refugees in the world.
In this sense, he said he believes that, despite the complexity of the situation, effective international cooperation can still make a difference in achieving this goal.
The head of the Angolan delegation at the meeting highlighted that, as part of fulfilling the commitments made during the 1st Forum, Angola implemented, among others, the clause for the cessation of refugee status, in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, he highlighted the voluntary repatriation of refugees welcomed in the Lóvua settlement, in the province of Lunda Norte, under the tripartite agreement.
He also referred to the Executive’s successful implementation of the general registration process for refugees and asylum seekers in the country.
Eugénio Laborinho also said that Angola is committed to achieving the objectives of the Global Compact on refugees also at a regional level, having mentioned, as an example, the implementation of the Lobito corridor project in the southern region.
On the other hand, based on the National Development Plan (PND), the minister said that the general census of the population in Angola, scheduled for 2024, will be a tool to measure the indicators of the Global Compact, as it will also allow for greater inclusion of refugees, repatriates and stateless people, so as not to leave anyone behind.
He also took the opportunity to welcome the important role played by the different international partners, with a view to matching and implementing different commitments and highlighted, in this context, the efforts made by UNHCR, in order to promote the sharing of burdens and responsibilities, in a more equitable between the various actors, with the situation of refugees in the world at its center.
The Global Compact on Refugees is the main global agreement that brings States and other interested actors together over four years to take stock of progress made and make new commitments to help achieve the Compact’s objectives.
Since last April, Angola has been member number 108 out of a total of 127 States of the UNHCR Executive Committee and has worked in partnership with this UN agency in implementing policies and programs for the reception and integration of refugees in the country.
The Angolan delegation to the event also includes the Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, Esmeralda Mendonça, for Human Rights and Citizenship, Ana Celeste Januário, and the Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Margarida Izata .
Also part of the delegation are technicians from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Human Rights, Interior, as well as diplomats from the Permanent Mission of Angola in Geneva.
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