Luanda - Angola on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland, reaffirmed its commitment to fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee (ExCom), as well as the recommendations of the Global Forum for Refugees.
This was expressed by Angola's permanent representative to the United Nations office in Geneva, Margarida Izata, during the general debate at the 75th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee taking place until October 18 at the United Nations Palace in Geneva.
On the occasion, the diplomat reaffirmed Angola's commitment at all levels of this UN agency.
According to the diplomat, Angola has honored its contribution of 100,000 US dollars as promised at the last session, with the aim of supporting projects for refugees and stateless people around the world.
Taking stock of the campaign called “I belong” linked to the eradication of statelessness in the world, Izata said it has had a positive impact in Angola, as it boosted the eradication of this phenomenon in Angola.
Margarida Izata highlighted the success in terms of the results achieved and good practices and the updating of the actions carried out to materialize the commitments assumed in 2023.
On the occasion, Angola declared its support for the UNHCR in implementing the “Global Alliance”, a process that aims to end statelessness, understanding that, in essence, it has the same objective as the “I belong” campaign.
“That's why Angola promises to join this new initiative, because we all have the right to life, a homeland, an identity and a gesture of love,” the diplomat said.
Margarida Izata said Angola continues to be a welcoming country, guaranteeing protection to more than 52,596 foreign citizens of different nationalities, allowing them access to all basic and primary services, on an equal footing with national citizens.
The diplomat pointed out that in 2023, the country launched the general register and allocation of identification documents to guarantee full recognition of the rights of refugees and prevent citizens in these conditions from finding themselves in a situation of legal vulnerability.
As regards to local integration, the diplomat said the process of granting residence permits to former Rwandan, Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees, who are covered by the refugee status cessation clause, is still active.
Izata explained that these registrations are being carried out all over the country and covers the refugees' families, especially their children born in Angola, who benefit from a birth certificate.
As regards to the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, Ambassador Margarida Izata said the Angolan government continues to expand the civil registry of citizens living in Angola and abroad, particularly in neighboring countries, in an inclusive and participatory process.
She also made it clear that for Angola, the creation of policies to eradicate cases of statelessness remains a priority, the assessment of which was being carried out by an inter-ministerial commission, which had the helpful collaboration of the UNHCR.
Angola's permanent representative to the United Nations office in Geneva took the opportunity to congratulate Filippo Grandi on his tireless commitment at the head of the UNHCR, a fact reflected in the report presented to the Committee members at the start of the event.
The diplomat expressed Angola's alignment with the statement made by the Republic of Congo, on behalf of the African Group.
The Executive Committee - ExCom meets annually in Geneva to review the Organization's activities, including reviewing and approving the Agency's programs and budget, ensuring international protection and discussing a range of other issues related to the UNHCR and intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, with special emphasis on greater mobilization of resources for the growing actions in support of refugees around the world.
The Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly that operates since January 1, 1959.ART/AMP
