The proposal was presented this Friday, in Luanda, by the head of Angolan diplomacy, Téte António, during the opening of the XVII Conference of Ministers of Justice and Human Rights of Portuguese-speaking Countries, which takes place under the motto "Development of Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Combating Environmental Crimes, in Particular Crimes Against Wildlife".
"The environmental crisis represents one of humanity's global challenges. This challenge requires concertation of ideas and coordination of prevention actions, to repress conduct harmful to the environment, with particular emphasis on crimes against wildlife", said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to Téte António, these are crimes that globally benefit individuals, groups or companies and that, in the final analysis, jeopardize peace, national security and the sustainable development of States.
The minister stressed that the complexity involved in combating this phenomenon results from its transnational nature, which "requires that the corresponding responses are coordinated and that they are situated in the context of international cooperation".
"Cooperation between the Member States provides precisely a joint approach to the phenomenon with the concomitant sharing of experiences and consideration of the specific reality of each country", he stressed, stressing that in this exercise the international recommendations on the matter are observed, that the national policies that implement environmental preservation and that legal and institutional frameworks comply with requirements.
In turn, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Queiroz, proposed this Friday a legal and judicial cooperation between the countries of the community in the fight against environmental crime, even allowing the injured States to recover the assets created in this way.
"I think, moreover, that the repatriation of illicitly transferred capital to other countries, including CPLP countries, should be somehow discussed by the CPLP justice ministers in close cooperation with our Attorney Generals of the Republic", he said.
Francisco Queiroz referred that the fight against environmental crimes is part of the logic of sustainable development, which is one of the organisation's commitments, stressing that this type of crime is a very current problem, which causes environmental degradation, jeopardizes environmental sustainability and, consequently, compromises human existence.
"We have a duty to prevent and combat the illicit exploitation of our natural resources, especially in critical areas, such as illicit trafficking in endangered species, poaching, illicit exploitation of minerals, timber, fishing, among others," he said.
The official stressed that environmental crimes may be associated with other illegal practices, such as money laundering crimes and, particularly, the phenomenon of corruption.
According to Francisco Queiroz, at this conference the member states will have the opportunity to understand the level of implementation of the Mobility Agreement, which in Angola has already been generally approved by the National Assembly.
The Minister of Justice of Cape Verde, Joana Amado, who held the presidency of the body, expressed her willingness to collaborate with Angola, sharing her experience "when necessary", because the environmental issue is very dear to her country.
Joana Amado stressed that Cape Verde is a small island country severely affected by climate change and that much of its already limited wild fauna and flora is at risk, and the lives of the seas exposed to piracy and predation crimes.
"By the way, I believe that we all have enough reasons to engage in the fight for the environment, for biodiversity and for the sustainable use of our living resources. It is the contribution that is required of us by humanity, by our peoples and countries", he said.
