Africa-Press – Angola. The Minister of State for the Social Area, Dalva Ringote, stated this Thursday, in Luanda, that Angola has made significant progress in the fight against gender-based violence, with the implementation of different legal documents.
The minister highlighted, at the infra-constitutional level, the Family Code, the Law Against Domestic Violence and its regulations, the new Penal Code, the General Labor Law, as well as the consecration of the gender-sensitive budget, whose operationalization reflects the framework of instructions for preparing the General State Budget (OGE).
The minister spoke at the workshop on gender-based violence, which aims to collect contributions for the report of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
According to the minister, gender-based violence represents, in the social context, a prevailing reality and contrary to the principles of universality, equality and human dignity.
“Thus, the fight against gender-based violence must continue to represent an ongoing challenge for our generations, public and private institutions, civil society and international partners”, he stressed.
For you, this issue takes on a clearly accentuated nature in relation to women, who are the biggest victims of physical, psychological, sexual, intellectual, moral, patrimonial or work-related violence.
He highlighted that violence against women is a reality rooted in unequal power relations in any society, being perpetrated, especially at home, which can affect anyone with devastating consequences for health and social well-being.
Without specifying numbers, the Minister of State said that only 26 percent of women targeted by violence turn to the police, with 25 percent turning to family members, 4 percent turning to traditional authorities and others choosing to remain silent at home.
This action results in a devastating impact on the dignity, safety and well-being of victims.
In view of the challenges that arise in the defense, protection and promotion of human rights, the Minister of State spoke of the approval of the national human rights strategy.
The aforementioned policy instrument embodies a vast set of institutional actions and responsibilities of the Angolan State, public and private institutions, civil society and international partners, elevating human rights to a “national security issue”.
He referred to the latest United Nations report, published in 2023, which states that only 14% of women and girls live in areas with solid legal frameworks to combat gender-based violence.
He recalled that men and women constitute a unique force that makes it possible to promote, within the framework of a common vision, actions to prevent and combat gender-based violence, through education and constructive social discourse.
Participating in the event are representatives of public and private institutions, technicians from the Intersectoral Commission for the Preparation of National Human Rights Reports (CIERNDH), CICTSH and members of civil society.
The event is part of the implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy and has the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
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