João Lourenço, in a message released on the occasion of International Children's Day, recalls that in Angola the rights of minors have been enshrined since the country's independence, in 1975, and were formalized in the 11 Commitments of Children adopted by the Government, in 2007, and others diplomas of equal importance.
The head of state said that, even so, Angolan children are affected by problems such as escape from parenthood, early pregnancy, domestic violence, sexual attacks, obscurantist practices, such as accusations of witchcraft, exploitation of child labor and other negative situations.
"On this day I greet all the children of Angola and their counterparts around the world, wishing that they fulfill all their dreams in a future of peace and prosperity", says the message.
The central event of this date was marked in Malanje province, with the minister of Social Action, Family and Women Promotion, Faustina Alves, noting that, in the country, girls are the ones who suffer the most violence, representing 52.3 percent of children.
Sexual violence contributes significantly to this percentage, he continued.
"Although overall it appears with one of the low figures, in the order of 2.35 percent compared to the 16.2 percent related to paternity avoidance," said the minister.
In his turn, the director-general of the National Children's Institute, Paulo Kalesi, noted that last year, 5810 cases of violence against children were registered, of which 2416 were of escape from paternity and 1811 of child exploitation.
Paulo Kalesi said that Luanda led the list of cases (1035), followed by Lunda Sul (1000), Bié (749), Benguela (606) and Zaire (572). of witches.
Along with the violations, the official, cited by Angop, said that the existence of few centers for the re-education of children in conflict with the law and the need to increase the number of courtrooms for minors are other concerns of the institution he runs.
