Luanda - The secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Esmeralda Mendonça on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, reiterated the importance of preserving the legacy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in order to meet the challenges of humanity.
Speaking at the high-level session celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UDHR, (December 10, 1948), Esmeralda Mendonça reaffirmed Angola's support for Volker Türk's mandate at the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
She took the opportunity to present Angola´s government commitments based on the national human rights strategy.
Esmeralda Mendonça presented an agenda based on finalising the ratification process of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as well as preparing a visit to Angola by the OHCHR working group, as well as the need to strengthen dialogue with the special procedures and treaty bodies ratified by Angola.
Angola's commitments also include drawing up and implementing a national policy on education for a culture of human rights, the need to strengthen partnerships with civil society organisations and also Angola´s focus on strengthening national human rights institutions based on the Paris principles.
The Paris Principles detail the roles and responsibilities, composition, guarantees of independence and methods of operation for a broad mandate to promote human rights.
Named "Initiative 75", the event has more than a hundred participants from various countries, including heads of state and government, among others.
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