Luanda – Angolan government will continue to endeavour to improve the wellbeing and living of Angolans, as a means to safeguarding the protection of human rights.
This was said Monday in Luanda by Foreign minister Téte António, while addressing the high level 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council going online from Geneva (Switzerland).
According to the diplomat, the Angolan government will continue to implement its 2019-2022 National Human Rights Strategy designed to promote and protect human rights, and recognise the relevant role played by civil society organisations on the issue.
“We also believe that an administration closer to the population contributes, in a more significant way, to the effective realisation of the human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals,” he stressed.
"It is within this framework that Angola is preparing to put in place the local power, as soon as the legislative, administrative, financial and sanitary situation in made possible,” added the minister.
According to Téte António, Angola is also committed to abiding by international regulations and by a constructive cooperation with the regional and international human rights mechanisms.
“The fight against corruption and impunity remain one of the pillars of the Angolan government’s new governing paradigm, as they represent a grave threat to sustainable development of the society and negatively impact the realisation of human rights,” the minister also stated.
In this regard, he added that Angola has taken good note of the ongoing High Commissioner’s project concerning the recovery of assets, based on the African Group directions on the negative impact of non-repatriation of funds of illicit origins.
The Foreign minister also appealed for a full cooperation among the member states of the UN Convention on Corruption, with a view to facilitating the retrieval of assets required to fund development projects in applying countries.
The Covid-19 fight
Minister Téte António on the occasion underscored the importance and need for safe, equitable and universal access to the Covid-19 vaccines.
To him, the ongoing session taking place a year after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the states continue suffering the burden of the multiple social and economic consequences, comes at the right time.
He on the occasion recalled that due to the aggravation of the socio-economic situation caused by the pandemic, the elevation of the country to the category of Meddle Income nations has been postponed until 2024.
The minister also recalled that the Angolan government has implemented a number of measures to soften the effects of the sanitary crisis in key sectors of the country, by putting in place credit facilities for companies and money transfer programmes for vulnerable populations.
Minister Téte mentioned the review of the National Development Plan and adhesion to the Debt Service suspension initiative and other measures.
The session going until 23 March, comprises five panels, namely that includes child rights and sustainable development goals, rights of people with disabilities, role of reduction of poverty in promotion and protection of human rights, international decade on people of African descent and celebration of the world day for elimination of racial discrimination.
