Luanda - The Angolan MP Luísa Damião Thursday in Oslo, Norway, defended the Angolan parliament's commitment to continue to be an important player in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in different areas.
The politician made the statement at the 30th International Parliamentary Conference on the Implementation of the Program of Action for Population and Development (ICPD) running from April 10 to 12.
The parliamentarian considered sexual and reproductive rights to be a decisive factor in the full realization of this Agenda.
Luisa Damião stressed that, in line with the "Ottawa Declaration of Commitment (Canada 2018)", Angola recognizes the importance of providing sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, as a factor in promoting the social and economic progress of peoples, the development of societies and countries in general.
For example, the National Assembly has signed an agreement with the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) on the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights, which will be officially launched in April.
In her view, this will be an opportunity to strengthen the capacity of Angolan parliamentarians in this area.
The politician recognized that the full materialization of sexual and reproductive rights in Africa is still a very sensitive issue, considering, on the one hand, the weight of the cultural burden surrounding gender issues and sexuality itself and, on the other, the scope of sexual and reproductive rights as a whole.
Luisa Damiaõ said sexual and reproductive rights represent a vast social contribution that involves different categories of rights, with an emphasis on the rights inherent in sexual and reproductive health.
Angola maintains its commitment to the fulfillment of women's rights, within the framework of the "Maputo Protocol", the MP said, adding that the Angolan government, in relation to sexual and reproductive health, seeks to provide adequate, accessible and humanized health services.
The politician added that the component of information, education and community programs for women, especially aimed at young women and those living in rural areas has been a central pillar in the definition of gender policy in Angola.
According to the politician, in collaboration with social partners, Angola has developed various programs aimed at increasing female literacy, controlling the birth rate, fighting domestic violence and other risks to women's full development and social affirmation.
She emphasized that women are thus encouraged to practice family planning, with a range of contraceptive methods available to them and that the health services and others have ensured access to information, which allows women to make the best decisions regarding motherhood.
The politician added that Angola young women have been given special attention so that traditional impediments such as early pregnancy, discrimination and early marriage are no longer arguments for dropping out of school.
Luisa Damião underscored that Angola's strategy for meeting the SDG targets by 2030, in line with the commitments made at the last ICPD, included promoting access to universal, inclusive and quality education for young people.
The International Conference on Population and Development is a global meeting that addresses aspects of human life in a comprehensive manner.
It is an opportunity for dialogue between parliamentarians, addressing issues such as the promotion of human rights, sexual health and reproductive rights, gender equality, access to education, the elimination of violence against women and environmental issues.
It is also an opportunity to mobilize resources and create a favorable environment around sexual and reproductive health and rights, which can be translated into policies and funding for countries.
This conference marks the 30th anniversary of the one held in Cairo in 1994.
So far, conferences of this kind have been held in Canada on two occasions, as well as in France, Thailand, Ethiopia, Turkey and Sweden.
Parliamentarians from 112 countries are taking part in the conference, which will culminate in the Oslo Declaration of Commitment. FMA/VIC/DAN/AMP
