Speaking at the ceremony, which took place this Wednesday at the Palace of Justice, the parliamentary leader considered "a historic step towards a more inclusive, fair and equitable society, the launch of the Constitution of the Republic of Angola in Braille".
According to a statement from parliament, to which VerAngola had access, the official said that "one of the priorities of action of all sovereign powers must be the promotion of the inclusion of people with disabilities, as an imperative of a society that intends to realize its full potential".
According to Carolina Cerqueira, by making the constitution available in Braille, we are "ensuring that all Angolans can know, understand and exercise their rights fully".
"By making the constitution available in Braille, we are ensuring that all Angolans can know, understand and exercise their rights fully. This is a crucial step towards building a truly democratic and inclusive society, where diversity is celebrated and equal opportunities are a reality," said the parliamentary leader.
For the president of the AN, "in the development of policies for the inclusion of people, it is essential to ensure the guarantee of conditions for access and exercise of citizenship rights, through their participation in the different contexts of life, on an equal footing with other citizens", reads the note.
Thus, she considered that this inclusion should be one of the priorities: "The full inclusion of citizens with disabilities, as well as the full recognition and promotion of their fundamental rights, must constitute one of the main priorities assumed by the various sovereign powers".
In this sense, she recalled that, "in the development of this constitutional imperative", the AN gave the green light to "important laws, within the framework of the implementation of the rights of people with disabilities", which end up contributing to the reduction "of social barriers that must be eliminated".
On the occasion, she also highlighted the "importance of the initiative of the Constitutional Court, as guardian of the constitution and fundamental rights, freedoms and guarantees", the statement states.
However, she warned that there should be more rigorous monitoring: "Almost a decade after the approval of the Accessibility Law, it is difficult to understand why recent constructions do not meet the access needs of people with disabilities. On the other hand, we have to be more rigorous in monitoring the contribution and in reserving places in public institutions", she stated.
Carolina Cerqueira also said that it was necessary to provide "more and better services, ensure timely quality responses and create effective support mechanisms, with simplified and rapid access".
"In her view, there is a moral obligation to remove barriers to participation and to invest in sufficient financial resources and knowledge to unleash the vast potential of people with disabilities, who have been denied access to health, rehabilitation, support, education and employment, as well as the opportunity to shine," the note reads.
At the ceremony, the leader of the AN handed over a copy of the Constitution of the Republic in Braille and 50 walking sticks to the National Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Angola.
