Angola commits to the empowerment of women and gender equality, the dignity of families and the advancement of women

The policy measures under the National Development Plan aim to promote the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for men and women, promote all equal-opportunity aspects in employment policies, including reducing occupational segregation and helping reconcile work and family life, as well as counter the persistent under-representation of women in all decision-making spheres, promote equal access and full enjoyment of social rights for men and women, eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2017 and at other educational levels by 2025, promote equality in civic life and contribute to change gender roles and stereotypes. In compliance with its international commitments, namely CEDAW, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights regarding the Rights of Women in Africa, the SADC Gender and Development Protocol, the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, to which Angola is a party, the Angolan Executive Branch has adopted policies to support gender issues and the advancement of women, as well as to support victims of violence, to give due recognition to families, to develop communities and promote rural women. The country’s Head of State also mandated a review of plans and policies related to the percentage of representation of women at all levels to increase it to at least 40 per cent, and has launched national campaigns to prevent violence and traditional practices that violate the rights of women and girls.  [Commitment statement]