A roundtable discussion on Gender Equality was held on the 11th of September in Lubango, hosted by the association Women’s Network (Rede Mulher), in partnership with the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women (MASFAMU), the Provincial Government of Huila, and with the support of UNFPA.
The main objective of the meeting was to reflect on the gender equality agenda in Angola, as well as to analyze the main results, challenges and opportunities at national, regional and international levels. The event was attended by about 100 people including the Deputy Governor of Huila Province for the Political, Economic and Social Sector, Dr. Maria João Chipalavela.
2019 celebrates the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Plan of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) adopted in Cairo in 1994, where world leaders recognized that universal access to sexual and reproductive health and family planning is a prerequisite and a condition for women's empowerment and human development.
The purpose of the conversation was also to analyze Angola's commitments to advocate and fulfill women's rights and development. Of these agreements we can highlight the following:
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, (CEDAW);
- The Commission on the Situation of Women (CSW);
- 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- International Conference on Population and Development, ICPD; and the - African Agenda 2063
National data demonstrates improvement in indicators related to gender equality. Although there is a greater gender balance in the number of parliamentarians in Angola with 30.5% of parliamentarians’ female, the data also shows that 30% of women were at one time victims of physical or sexual violence.
As a result of the meeting, key priorities were identified in the context of the prevention of gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls, emphasizing the need to strengthen the legal framework in Angola on sexual and reproductive rights and to seek out innovative practices. The empowerment of Angolan women and girls must also include men and boys, to be empowered as partners.
The Deputy Governor welcomed the conclusions of the conversation with enthusiasm, demonstrating her commitment to achieving the goals set out in the National Development Plan on gender equality.
According to the message of the UNFPA Representative in Angola, Florbela Fernandes, “it is essential to address the conditions needed for the strengthening sectoral of capacity for case management of survivors of gender-based violence”.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Angola is committed to working with the Government of Angola and other stakeholders to deliver on ICPD commitments, and ensuring a world where all pregnancies are wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
