Malanje - The Ombudswoman, Florbela Araújo, on Monday in the Province of Malanje, pointed to the increase in the culture of citizens denouncing violations of their rights, as a result of the actions that the body has been developing in the country, on the role and function of the ombuds office.
Speaking after a meeting with members of the Malanje provincial government, chaired by the vice-governor for the Political, Economic and Social sector, Franco Mufinda, the official said that data from the Ombuds's Office pointed to the registration of more than 7,000 complaints across the country in 2023, relating to excessive pre-trial detention, lengthy proceedings, land conflicts and paternity evasion, among others.
Florbela Araújo highlighted the strengthening of interaction with international organisations, especially the International Institute of Ombuds for Africa, as another factor that has ensured the visibility of the body and raised citizens' legal awareness and denunciation.
Despite these advances, she said that the Ombuds' Office faces challenges in terms of expanding its services, at a time when it has coverage in only 11 provinces, with the exception of Lunda Sul, Bié, Huíla, Cuanza-Norte, Uige, Huambo, Zaire and Moxico, as well as increasing the number of technicians to speed up the processing of cases.
She emphasised that the resolution of these problems is conditional on an improvement in the country's economic situation.
Despite these advances, she said that the Ombudsman's Office faces challenges in terms of expanding its services, at a time when it has coverage in only 11 provinces, with the exception of Lunda Sul, Bié, Huíla, Cuanza-Norte, Uige, Huambo, Zaire and Moxico, as well as increasing the number of technicians to speed up the processing of cases.
She emphasised that the resolution of these problems is conditional on an improvement in the country's economic situation.
This afternoon, Florbela Araújo began a three-day working trip to the province of Malanje, where she will give a lecture on Tuesday on the Mandate and Role of the Ombuds Office in the Defence of Children's Rights.
As part of the plan to evaluate the Ombuds Office's work in the province, the day includes visits to prisons, hospitals, children's homes and bodies of the Provincial Delegation of the Interior, as well as hearings with citizens.
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