Luanda – Angolan president João Lourenço announced Tuesday that the legislation on crimes against minors is to be amended to integrate tougher penalties to those who commit serious acts capable of compromising the future of children.
In his message on the State of the Nation, delivered at the opening of the parliamentary year, the president said the situation of violence against children is a serious evil that sickens Angolan society.
The president considered irreplaceable the role of the family, taking into account the number of cases of violence committed within the family, having criticized the fact that cultural, traditional or religious aspects continue to serve as an excuse for violence against children to be committed.
Woman
In relation to women's empowerment, the President guaranteed that the government will continue to recognize and praise the role of women in society and support their initiatives.
He stated that consolidating the steps that have been taken towards full equality between men and women in Angola t is an imperative of social justice, underlining that the two editions of the National Woman of Merit Award constitute a good example of recognition of the important and irreplaceable role of women in society.
The president admitted that domestic violence continues to be a cause for concern, despite the progress made.
“We must continue to study the phenomenon and apply measures to reduce it”, Lourenço said, highlighting the fact that the Law on Domestic Violence is currently under review.
Youth
The Head of State said the government will continue to invest in youth, creating foundations for their training, both academic and vocational, to face the country's challenges.
“Our young people are the greatest asset that our country has, and should therefore deserve more and more space for insertion and more opportunities to realize their dreams, and their positive occupation should continue to deserve our best attention", the president said.ART/TED/AMP
