Africa-Press – Angola. The president of the National Assembly (AN), Carolina Cerqueira, requested, this Monday, the involvement of public and private institutions and non-governmental organizations to ensure, on a permanent basis, the defense, promotion and protection of human rights.
When speaking at the 2nd Conference on Human Rights, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he stressed that the defense, promotion and protection of human rights does not depend only on the State, it requires the involvement of other institutions, especially society in general.
He recognized that Angola has made notable advances in terms of preserving human rights, as an achievement for Angolans, which translates into their promotion, defense and monitoring.
According to the president of the National Assembly, the preservation of this achievement constitutes, not only a duty of citizenship, “but a right that cannot be denied to any citizen of our country”.
He recalled that this imperative is ensured by the Constitution of the Republic, by establishing a catalog of fundamental rights, “the interpretation and application of which must be in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the legal instruments on the matter that Angola has ratified” .
In this regard, he highlighted the approval of the National Human Rights Strategy and the creation of an adequate legal and institutional framework, aimed at guaranteeing the systematic and consistent implementation of fundamental rights and the defense of the dignity of Angolans.
The leader of the Angolan Parliament acknowledged, however, that despite these achievements, “the country’s current economic situation has made it difficult to fully realize some fundamental rights”.
In terms of economic, social and cultural rights, he highlighted challenges that concern access to healthcare for all, decent housing, basic sanitation, quality water, fair work and wages, the right to an adequate standard of living, among others.
Role of youth and civil society
Carolina Cerqueira highlighted, in the process of promoting and protecting human rights, the role of two social segments, namely youth and members of civil society organizations.
For him, in these troubled times at a global level, when achievements that are considered to be perennial are beginning to be called into question, “the role of youth in building an Angola that is increasingly respectful of human rights is fundamentally highlighted”.
He noted that young people must continue to promote education in human rights, being supportive and spreading respect for minorities, protecting those who need it most and respecting diversity.
“Educating these principles is a duty for all of us, involving and encouraging young people to actively participate in spaces for debate on human rights issues. This is the way, there is no other”, he stressed.
He assured that the cause of human rights remains at the center of the National Assembly’s agenda, welcoming the initiative of the 10th Parliament Committee that has promoted meetings like this to address the issue.
Respect for the rules of humanitarian law
When referring to wars, new disputes and expansionist policies, Carolina Cerqueira called for respect for the rules of international humanitarian law, through the protection of civilians, detained people, injured and sick people who do not take part in hostilities.
“Unfortunately, today we are witnessing, powerlessly, the dramatic situation of millions of people who suffer, victims of armed conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, people who have no voice and whose dignity is denied to them”, he expressed.
He noted that States must demand respect for norms, as the first step to changing situations of this nature.
“We must demand that sovereignty be respected, that we stop targeting civilians, that we stop bombing hospitals or schools, that we stop threatening and kidnapping or killing those who help, that we not violate borders and respect the word given “, he stressed.
Carolina Cerqueira maintained that, when in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there was a clear purpose: to ensure that all human rights, in all human beings, everywhere have basic rights for the simple fact of being human beings.
“Today, 75 years later, we continue to call into question the principles of equality, freedom and human dignity, we continue to experience ethical and religious problems that call into question the universality of human rights, resulting from various scenarios of pain and suffering human rights, slave labor, human trafficking, torture, sexual violence, gender-based violence, refugee crisis, international terrorism, among others”, he highlighted.
It understands that the Universal Declaration is a roadmap that helps to end wars, state successions and promote lives of peace and dignity for all.
The event, which takes place under the motto “promoting education for good citizenship”, was organized by the 10th Commission on Human Rights, Petitions, Complaints and Suggestions from Citizens of the National Assembly.
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