Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Applaud Angola’s Efforts to Extend Economic, Social and Recreational Opportunities to Women, Raise Questions on the Criminalisation of Abortion and Child Marriage
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the eighth periodic report of the Republic of Angola on the State’s efforts to comply with the Convention on the Elimination on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Committee Experts commended Angola on efforts to extend economic, social and recreational opportunities to women, while raising questions on the criminalisation of abortion and how Angola was dealing with the issue of child marriage.
Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, applauded the State party's efforts to extend economic, social and recreational opportunities to women, including through the informal economy conversion programme; the Kwenda cash-transfer programme, and the Caixa Comunitária pilot targeting financial inclusion for rural women; and encouraging growth in women's competitive sport, including the national women's football team and the advocacy work of the Angolan Women in Sports Association.
Another Committee Expert said the Committee was concerned that abortion continued to be criminalised outside of three specific situations. When would health strategies to ensure safe abortion and post-abortion care services be formally approved throughout the territory? Did the State plan to reform the Penal Code and move towards the decriminalisation of abortion beyond the cases currently allowed. The State should think carefully about whether it was appropriate to keep criminalising abortion. Another Expert said if abortion was legalised in three specific scenarios, could it be decriminalised beyond these scenarios?
An Expert said the Family Code still allowed the marriage of girls from the age of 15 and boys from the age of 16. Many other unions were undertaken, in some cases to "regularise" the situation after sexual abuse. What was the timetable for the adoption of the reform of the Family Code that would establish 18 years as the minimum age of marriage for women and men, without exception, also in customary law? What had been the results of the national campaign and how were traditional child unions identified and prevented?
Introducing the report, Alcina Lopes Da Cunha Kindanda, Secretary of State for Family and the Promotion of Women, Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women of Angola and head of the delegation, said Angola continued to widely disseminate the Convention and its recommendations through publications, training activities, awareness campaigns, educational institutions and local human rights committees, with the involvement of traditional authorities, churches and civil society partners. The State remained firmly committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, as guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights instruments.
With regard to abortions, the delegation said the right to life prevailed in Angola, which meant lawmakers had chosen to criminalise abortion. The legal framework on abortion was governed by the Criminal Code. Abortion was a crime except in three specific situations: if the pregnancy was the result of an illegal act, such as incest or rape; if there was a risk to the mother’s life if the pregnancy continued; and if there was an incurable disease in the foetus. The distribution of contraceptives was free of charge in Angola. However, the population often did not accept using contraceptive methods. This was a cultural issue which the State was addressing.
Concerning child marriage, the delegation said the Family Code was currently being amended from its original approval in 1988. The article within the Family Code referring to early marriage was not used. There were no cases in courts authorising marriages of 14- or 15-year-olds, whether they were boys or girls. Angola had been implementing awareness raising campaigns regarding child marriage which were rolled out into communities where child marriage was the most prevalent. Work was also being carried out with the traditional and faith leaders, as a lot of these unions were carried out with their consent.
In closing remarks, Ms. Lopes Da Cunha Kindanda thanked the Committee Experts for their interest and readiness to engage in the constructive dialogue on the implementation of the Convention. This had been an opportunity for Angola to provide information on progress achieved and the outstanding challenges
In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chairperson, thanked Angola for the dialogue, which had helped to provide a better understanding of the situation of women and girls in the country.
The delegation of Angola was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women; the Ministry of External Relations; the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of the Interior; the Ministry of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security; the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; the Ministry of Planning; the Office of the President; the Office of the Attorney General; the Office of the Ombudsman; and the Permanent Mission of Angola to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s ninety-third session is being held from 5 to 30 October. All documents relating to the Committee’s work can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, 16 October, begin its consideration of the tenth periodic report of Cabo Verde (CEDAW/C/CPV/10).
Report
The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of Angola (CEDAW/C/AGO/8).
Presentation of Report
ALCINA LOPES DA CUNHA KINDANDA, Secretary of State for Family and the Promotion of Women, Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women of the Republic of Angola and head of the delegation, said the Republic of Angola continued to widely disseminate the Convention and its recommendations through publications, training activities, awareness campaigns, educational institutions and local human rights committees, with the involvement of traditional authorities, churches and civil society partners.
According to the 2024 census, Angola had 36.6 million inhabitants, of whom 51 per cent were women. The human development index had increased from 0.581 in 2018 to 0.616 in 2023, while life expectancy rose from 61 years to 65 years. Angola remained firmly committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, as guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights instruments.
Important reforms had strengthened the legal and policy framework for gender equality, including amendments to the domestic violence law and social protection law, the implementation of the national policy for gender equality and equity, and the expansion of the Kwenda Programme, which now reached over five million people across 21 provinces, with women receiving more than 71 per cent of cash transfers in 2025.
Angola had intensified efforts to combat trafficking in persons through the implementation of a national action plan, enhanced victim protection measures and stronger international cooperation. Women's participation in decision-making had also increased significantly. Women now occupied some of the country's highest offices, including Vice-President of the Republic and President of the Constitutional Court, and represented 41 per cent of members of Parliament.
In education, Angola continued to invest in girls' empowerment through the PAT II programme, which combined scholarships, reproductive health education, improved school facilities and support for adolescent mothers. Sexual and reproductive health education had been expanded nationwide, while school feeding programmes, complaint mechanisms and student clubs helped address gender-based violence, early pregnancy and child marriage.
To promote employment and economic inclusion, the Republic of Angola was implementing the National Employment Agenda, the JOBE-Angola Programme, and the JOVEM+ Project. Recent initiatives provided employment support to thousands of citizens, including women, while ensuring greater opportunities for young people and persons with disabilities. Women now accounted for 48 per cent of public-sector employees, and progress continued in vocational training and social protection coverage. Additionally, the legal framework governing domestic work had enabled the progressive extension of mandatory social protection coverage. Currently, 13,825 workers, most of whom were women, were registered.
In the health sector, Angola had expanded access to primary healthcare and maternal services. In 2025, 87 per cent of pregnant women attended at least one antenatal consultation, and programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV had been strengthened nationwide. Coverage of prenatal care, skilled birth attendance and family planning services had significantly improved over recent years. Adolescent- and Youth-Friendly Reproductive Health Services were dedicated spaces that had been created within health facilities to provide confidential care and reproductive health education, as well as guidance on mental health and other issues relevant to the development of adolescents and young people. The Republic of Angola had also developed and implemented national strategies to promote inclusion and combat harmful beliefs affecting women with disabilities, including women with albinism.
Through family support, financial inclusion, rural development and agricultural programmes, Angola continued to strengthen the economic empowerment of women. Women played a central role in family farming, which accounted for 91 per cent of agricultural activity, and more than 43,500 women benefited from land titles and agricultural training in 2026. Support had also been expanded for rural women, female entrepreneurs, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Angola reaffirmed that sustainable development, democratic legitimacy and social transformation could not be achieved without the full participation and leadership of women. The State party was committed to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment across all sectors of society, and welcomed the recommendations and observations by the Committee.
Questions by Committee Experts
ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, applauded the State party’s progress towards realising its commitments under the Convention. She saluted the extensive legal, policy and strategic reforms undertaken since the last review to implement Convention recommendations, particularly the 2020 Criminal Code; the 2023 general labour act; the 2022 civil service framework act; the eight International Labour Organization conventions ratified in 2024; the 2019 gender-responsive budgeting reforms; the 2023–2027 plans on protection of persons with albinism and inclusion for persons with disabilities; the establishment of the Angola Gender Observatory; the 37.7 per cent women's representation in the 2023 Parliament; and the maternal mortality decline from 377 to 170 per 100,000 live births.
However, the practical implementation of legal and policy frameworks remained a challenge. Rights protections were not fully enjoyed by many women and girls, particularly in rural areas. El Niño-induced droughts left over 1.5 million people, mainly women and girls, facing food insecurity, while floods in Benguela and the Catumbela Basin destroyed homes, livestock and crops. Weak gender institutions and high levels of gender-based violence persisted, affecting nearly one-third of women and girls, despite only 0.01 per cent of the national budget being allocated to this area. Additional barriers included legal provisions allowing marriage from age 15, inadequate reproductive healthcare, continued criminalisation of abortion outside limited exceptions, and shrinking civic space affecting women, girls, human rights defenders and civil society organizations.
Another Committee Expert said the Committee remained concerned about persistent challenges in the enforcement of laws promoting and protecting women’s rights. The Committee noted with concern the absence of a comprehensive legislative definition of discrimination against women in full compliance with article 1 of the Convention. What was the State party’s timeline and roadmap for adopting standalone comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in accordance with the Convention? How did the State party intend to address the intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women, including indigenous women/traditional women?
While noting the constitutional recognition of customary law, the Committee remained concerned that traditional or community-based dispute-resolution mechanisms could perpetuate discriminatory gender stereotypes and practices inconsistent with the Convention. What mechanisms existed to ensure that customary practices complied with constitutional gender equality guarantees and Convention obligations, and to provide effective remedies and protection for women affected by discriminatory practices? Could the State party elaborate on systematic capacity building and training on women's rights and gender equality provided to traditional authorities and actors within informal justice systems?
The Committee noted with concern that no formal complaints or charges regarding gender-based discrimination had reportedly been filed under the Penal Code. How did the State party assess the practical implementation of its anti-discrimination framework? What measures were being taken to identify and eliminate structural or procedural barriers preventing women and girls from reporting discrimination and seeking effective remedies? Could disaggregated data from 2020 onwards be provided on complaints, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and remedies concerning discrimination under the Penal Code?
What legal and procedural safeguards did the State party intend to establish to ensure that the 2024 law on crimes of vandalism of public goods and services and the law on national security were not applied in ways that restricted fundamental freedoms or peaceful advocacy by women human rights defenders?
What specific measures were being taken to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in both the implementation and monitoring of the second national action plan on women, peace and security?
ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said that recently some protesters against gender-based violence had been disbanded, despite the law on gender-based violence. Could the State party comment on this?
What proportion of the budget was dedicated to gender equality objectives, how was performance monitored and evaluated, and what mechanisms existed to ensure that they translated into measurable improvements in the lives of women and girls? What resources were assigned to ensure the effective and full implementation of the national policy for gender equality and equity? How was compliance with Convention targets ensured? What steps were envisaged for reactivating the multisectoral coordination body on gender and equip it with oversight and binding decision-making authority across ministries? Could an update on the Angola Gender Observatory operationalisation plan be provided? What plans existed for effectively resourcing the Ombudsperson’s Standing Commission, established in 2021, to deliver its rights protection mandate for vulnerable citizens?
Another Expert commended the Republic Angola for implementing temporary measures to accelerate the achievement of gender equality, including revising legislation, strengthening women’s autonomy and leadership, and providing training for decision-making positions. The 2005 political parties act, requiring that at least 30 per cent of political party governing body and candidate positions be held by women, was welcomed. The Committee also positively noted the successful parity in the 2022 general election, with a 50 per cent parity candidate list. However, concerns persisted, including that the 30 per cent quota was not a binding requirement for all political parties, and that there were no temporary special measures focused on women in public life facing intersecting forms of discrimination.
Having identified sociocultural stereotypes as limiting the acceptance of women in leadership, what measures had the State undertaken to ensure compliance and accountability with temporary special measures? What temporary special measures were planned to protect the human rights and dignity of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women? What was the timeline for reviewing electoral law 36/11 to introduce a binding gender quota? Would an enforceable mechanism with sanctions for non-compliance be introduced? What temporary special measures were planned to accelerate substantive equality by improving access to education, housing and violence-free digital and physical spaces for women facing intersecting forms of discrimination?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State’s Constitution enshrined access to effective legal protection. All individuals were entitled to access justice and the courts, and receive the correct legal aid. No one could have access to justice denied due to their economic resources. Women who did not have significant funds could be awarded a certificate from the Bar Association which allowed them to be represented in the courts. More than 19,000 cases had been heard by the Bar Association, with over 10,000 of them women.
The Republic of Angola had modernised its court systems, bringing them closer to the people. The State had increased its centres which dealt with out of court settlements, and had boosted these centres in terms of their resources. There was another amendment being brought to the Criminal Code, including defining aggravating circumstances for certain crimes, including sexual harassment and violence against girls. The law on domestic violence had also been reviewed and amended.
There had been many complaints of issues such as domestic violence in Angola. They were channelled to the criminal authorities and then to the courts. All legislation concerning women contained norms relating to the protection of women. The principle of equality between men and women existed in the general labour law and in employment law. The State had been working to mitigate issues relating to labour, based on complaints brought before the law in this regard.
Freedom of assembly was guaranteed in Angola’s Constitution. The 2024 law on crimes of vandalism of public goods and services and the law on national security were not intended to curtail the activities of civil society. Several trainings had been carried out for the police forces to ensure they properly respected the rights of all citizens.
In Angola’s legal order, custom was deemed to be a source of law. In rural communities, access to traditional forms of justice had not yet arrived, and customary laws often prevailed. There was monitoring and support, and the State could intervene in certain cases.
Angola wished to translate the Convention into Portuguese to disseminate it at the local level. The issue of national languages was constantly being studied as well. The State had held workshops and seminars and created a brochure which included the guidelines of the Convention.
Civil society organizations were considered to be the State’s social partners, taking part in all legislative processes. The report had been drafted with the support of civil society organizations. A register in the Ministry of Human Rights contained the names of over 1,200 civil society organizations, illustrating the Government’s willingness to cooperate with these groups.
The Ministry of Human Rights had signed protocols with five different universities, foreseeing the dissemination of treaty body instruments, including the Convention. The Convention was taught in law courses, and there were additional post graduate courses on human rights. Judges and prosecutors also helped to disseminate the Convention and received training on it.
Regarding the “fake news bill”, the State aimed to protect security and combat fake news and false information on the internet.
Security forces also ensured there was equal access to women in public office, and ensured equal opportunities in the security profession. There had been an increase in the number of women holding public office. A plan had been developed to ensure that women were involved in negotiations on conflict resolution. Women were more sensitive, and when they were at the negotiating table, this ensured the negotiations were being conducted in the best possible fashion. In the negotiations around the world, men failed to reach agreements; if women had been there, they likely would have achieved better results.
The State had adopted a law on military contingents and soldiers stationed outside the country. The law did not set a specific quota for women in these contingents. There was a need to go further, but the country was on the right path. The President invested in gender in peace and security.
Around 737 rural cases had been resolved out of court in the Luanda Centre between 2019 and 2026. Out of court settlements involved expressions of the wishes of the parties. The State’s legal culture focused on the judicial system, but rural areas had a dispute settlement system. There were also provincial delegations of human rights representatives in 21 provinces of the country.
Gender focal points took into account and mainstreamed gender issues within their respective sectors, including civil society. The gender equality policy had recently been adopted with the necessary amendments. The operalisation of this policy was governed by a range of policies and goals relating to gender.
The State always referred to the Convention as the body to uphold the rights of women nationally. The data platform, established in 2025, fed into the drafting of public policies to protect the rights of women. A plan had been developed to ensure the effective implementation of the gender policy and accountability. The Ministry of Family was responsible for ensuring the gender mainstreaming of policies and budgets across all sectors. The Gender Observatory was the main centre to collate gender-sensitive data and adjust public policies following the collection of this data if necessary.
The Ombudsman’s Office had a wide-reaching mandate, upholding the rights of all citizens. A special unit focused on protecting vulnerable groups, which included women. From 2019 to the first half of 2026, 44,000 complaints had been lodged, with the complaints made by women centring on issues relating to pensions, refusal to pay alimony, domestic violence and delays in legal proceedings. Complaints which were criminal in nature were sent to the Office of the Attorney General.
Political parties were increasingly implementing the 30 per cent quotas, and there had been an increasing number of women elected in recent elections. The governing party had a woman as their Vice-Chair and the Vice President of the Republic was a woman. The concept of 50 per cent parity could be something which was proposed to Parliament.
State programmes dealt with promoting gender equality, with all women able to benefit. A multisectoral coordinating mechanism met periodically to assess how far gender issues were integrated into the various sectors.
The Republic of Angola was currently engaged in a decentralisation process. There were ministry representatives in each province who were in charge of ensuring all plans were implemented properly.
When citizens submitted a complaint, it would be sent to the specific department on vulnerable social segments and then sent to the Ombudsman who would take up a position. There was no specific programme dealing with gender-based violence in the Ombudsman’s Office; these cases were passed on to the Attorney General’s Office. The Ombudsman’s Office now had delegations in 13 provinces and also had 24 online facilities spanning 12 different provinces.
There were representatives of the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women in all provinces who could provide training and support to vulnerable women. In cases of women with albinism, they were referred to health centres, and provided with kits containing sunglasses, suncreams and hats, and were screened for skin cancer.
Awareness raising sessions were conducted with rural women and female traders to help transition them to the formal economy.
Questions by Committee Experts
ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the 2019 concluding observations of the Committee, after the report of the Republic of Angola was reviewed, called for the prohibition of all harmful practices, including the social exclusion of women and girls accused of practicing witchcraft. What legislative measures existed to specifically address and prohibit witchcraft accusations and related violence, including relating to girls practicing witchcraft? What was the status of investigations into violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, including the pending 2024 discrimination case and the death of the activist?
In 2024, more than 14,500 cases of violence were recorded in the State party, and many were unreported. In July-August 2026, the Republic of Angola's National Assembly unanimously passed significant amendments to law 25/11 to combat domestic violence, which the Committee applauded. Could the State party provide a timeline for the completion of the remaining procedures and the entry into force of the revised law 25/11? Why was a completely new and comprehensive bill not considered as recommended by the Committee?
Another Expert said it was important to recognise the positive strides taken by the State party, including a landmark Presidential Decree issued to prohibit worker-paid recruitment fees, taking a direct aim at exploitative labour recruiters. Furthermore, the State had significantly boosted the number of labour inspectors on the ground and successfully expanded anti-trafficking training for frontline officials. However, failures lay in victim protection, including access to shelters, severe hotline operational problems, and increased vulnerability for refugee, migrant and asylum women. Compounding this human toll was a severely strained law enforcement apparatus, in the face of the shift into online spaces.
What concrete steps was the Government taking to establish State-funded, dedicated shelters for trafficking survivors, and what was the timeline to resolve the failures of the national emergency anti-trafficking hotlines? What targeted proactive screening mechanisms and legal protections were being deployed to prevent the exploitation of highly vulnerable populations who were frequently subjected to forced labour and forced prostitution within the diamond-mining sectors? How did the Ministry of Interior plan to address cyber-trafficking registration and tracking deficiencies? Were there immediate plans to reform the Penal Code to align the legal definitions with international standards? What measures were planned to strengthen investigation and prosecution capacity and strengthen deterrence? What exit and social-reintegration programmes existed for women in prostitution, and how were they resourced?
ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, also asked the State party to comment on a case where a woman reported a crime on television and was then assaulted by a police officer. Had a comprehensive strategy been developed to eliminate stereotypes and harmful practices such as violence against women, children and old women considered to be witches?
Another Expert said the Committee applauded the substantive efforts of the Republic of Angola in advancing the participation and representation of women in political and public life, and in representing the State at the senior diplomatic level. Women occupied high-level, significant decision-making positions, and women parliamentarians currently constituted 41 per cent of the legislature, the highest level ever achieved for the country. The Committee commended the State party for this achievement.
However, there were still challenges, including women’s political leadership and the participation of rural women. What measures were planned to increase women's representation in ministerial, gubernatorial, deputy-governor, senior civil service and sub-national positions? Could data be provided on women's representation in leadership positions within the security and police forces? What targeted measures existed to improve political and public participation of women facing intersecting disadvantages in rural areas and urban shanty towns? What strategies were in place to increase the number of women representing Angola at senior diplomatic levels?
Another Expert said despite some positive advancements in regard to birth registration, civil registration coverage remained low, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas. The country had a population of 36.6 million, yet the implementation report indicated that only over six million people were registered, with women accounting for 54.3 per cent of those registered. What measures would be taken to achieve the goal of universal identification card coverage, and would it ensure registration of the vast majority of children who remained unregistered before age five? How would the civil registration rights of indigenous women, women in remote areas, and women with disabilities be addressed, and how would the urban-rural gap be narrowed? Could Angolan women with foreign spouses who gave birth out of wedlock register their children for citizenship regardless of their birth country? What measures would the State party take to ensure that refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls could promptly obtain identity documents and receive appropriate protection?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Angola had been strengthening complaints mechanisms, including the hotline for reporting domestic violence and social protection centres. There was sensitive handling of complaints in police and family centres, and sign language interpreters available. Services in these centres included psychosocial and legal support, and access to justice was ensured without any discrimination. Angola was spreading the “blue heart campaign” which spread solidarity for the victims of human trafficking.
An intersectoral Commission on Human Trafficking had been established, with an action plan which distributed actions to all Ministries. There was no specific budget for this activity, but all ministries in the Commission were required to conduct activities relating to trafficking and allocate budgets to this area. There were shelters for victims of human trafficking situated throughout the country. Angola did not have a highly prevalent issue of trafficking despite its location. The State undertook awareness raising activities in the main border areas, with a view to prevent possible cases of human trafficking.
Two entities were responsible for combatting cybercrime in the country. The State had an outdated Criminal Code and was now embarking on a new phase of amendments. The Committee’s recommendations to specifically include trafficking within the Criminal Code would be taken into consideration. A programme targeted victims of trafficking and sex workers and focused on their reintegration.
A programme was in place which enabled civil society to get together and discuss issues which arose in society. These meetings sought to raise awareness among traditional leaders, as well as women, teenagers and children, to ensure they were aware of and could combat issues like domestic violence.
The State promoted combatting any discrimination based on witchcraft. The SOS helpline was free of charge, confidential and operated 24 hours a day. As complaints were received, they were automatically recorded and registered. Complaints were also linked to WhatsApp, enabling messages to be sent in.
Investigative bodies had a general budget to prevent and sanction the crime of human trafficking, and a department was especially dedicated to investigating these crimes.
Regarding the officer who had sexually assaulted a woman after her claim on television, he was disciplined and was no longer part of the police force. Incidents like this were one-off cases.
The backlog regarding cases of gender-based violence was due to a range of factors. It was not always because of the courts; often, victims themselves did not turn up to the courts, or did not want to make statements. There were constraints with the victims and the legal machinery itself.
The Criminal Code mentioned trafficking, including sexual exploitation. Angola was subject to the Palermo Protocol. Cases had been recorded in the State party, including forced labour involving foreign nationals. Most of the victims were female.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said it was the State’s duty to promote a balanced participation between women and men in public and political life. Women and men could run for public office and posts without discrimination and receive necessary training, which had contributed to the number of women in decision-making posts. Women in Parliament accounted for 41 per cent of members of Parliament, and held 40 per cent of director-level responses in the public sector.
There were opportunities for women to join the Police Force, as well as to obtain directorships. There was also an association for supporting women police officers. The aim was to ensure transparent criteria for promotion to commander-level posts. Women now accounted for 20 per cent of security forces; 59 per cent of the most recent recruitment pool were women.
Strategies had been designed which ensured equal opportunities to recruitment in the foreign service and focused on training in multilateral diplomacy. The State aimed to ensure that women played an effective role in foreign policy, negotiations and diplomatic decisions. There were 47 female ambassadors and 27 heads of consular admissions. There were also Angolan women representing the country in various high-level international posts. Angola was committed to ensuring the election of Josefa Sacko as head of the Food and Agricultural Organization, who if elected would be the first woman to head up the Organization.
Birth registration was different from having an identity card. In Angola today, there were several different mechanisms ensuring children received birth certificates, including the national campaign “Born with Registration”, enabling babies to be registered in the first few days of their life. Birth registration counters existed throughout the country and also in hospitals. Birth registration was free for children under five-years-old, as well as those who were obtaining an identity card for the first time. The State had a plan to increase the number of birth registrations in the country. Nationality rights were the same for both women and men and there was no distinction. The State provided nationality documents to the spouses of Angolan citizens, regardless of their nationality.
Questions by the Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the Committee was concerned about the persistence of structural barriers that prevented girls and women from fully exercising their right to education without discrimination, including territorial and socio-economic inequalities, inadequate sanitation facilities which were a prerequisite for girls' retention in school, and that access to education for vulnerable girls was limited. How would the State address these deficits?
Adolescent pregnancy was one of the main causes of school dropout among girls in Angola: 27 per cent of adolescents aged 15 to 19 had been pregnant, a figure that reached 51 per cent in Cuanza Sul province. Were there plans to ensure that pregnant girls and adolescent mothers could remain in school or return to school after childbirth? How was access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education guaranteed? How did this education reach girls who were not enrolled in school? What initiatives were in place to encourage girls' participation in non-traditional fields and ensure their access to technical and vocational education? How was it ensured that all girls had running water and appropriate sanitary facilities?
Another Expert asked how the State party would properly handle the issue of refugees at the border? What would be done to protect refugee women and children and crack down on crimes of trafficking?
A Committee Expert said data showed that unemployment was higher among women than men and that more men were employed in the formal sector, 68 per cent compared to 32 per cent women. Over 80 per cent of employment in Angola was informal and it was higher among women - 90 per cent. What concrete steps was the State party taking to address the high rates of unemployment among women? What was been done to help women transfer from the informal sector to the formal sector? Could the State party provide data on workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields and those at C suite level in the public and private sectors? The Committee had received reports that many domestic workers continued to be excluded from the social protection scheme. What steps were being taken to ensure their inclusion?
Another Committee Expert acknowledged the progress made by Angola in the area of women's health, including the reduction of maternal mortality, the increase in antiretroviral treatment coverage among pregnant women living with HIV, and the recently adopted amendments to the HIV law. However, women faced obstacles to effectively exercise their right to health. Firstly, the Committee was concerned that abortion continued to be criminalised outside of three specific situations. When would health strategies to ensure safe abortion and post-abortion care services be formally approved throughout the territory?
Did the State plan to reform the Penal Code and move towards the decriminalisation of abortion beyond the cases currently allowed? Were there plans to increase coverage of antenatal care, skilled births and emergency obstetric and neonatal services? How were maternal deaths reviewed and how would Angola ensure that recommendations led to corrective action and accountability?
What measures would the State take to ensure the availability of contraceptives, especially in rural areas? How would it be ensured that all women and adolescents had access to family planning services that were affordable, confidential and free from coercion and discrimination? Adolescent pregnancy, as the Committee had already pointed out, was still very common. The national integrated strategy for adolescent and youth health 2026–2031 had already been approved, and should translate into accessible services, sufficient budgets and measurable results. What concrete measures would be taken to reduce teenage pregnancy in the most affected provinces? How could the State ensure that adolescents had confidential access to comprehensive sex education, voluntary contraception, and adequate information and care, preventing sexual violence and child marriage?
How could reproductive care and free and informed consent for women with disabilities be ensured? How would new health facilities be ensured to meet universal accessibility criteria? Following the recent reforms of the HIV act, what measures were being taken to implement its provisions on the protection of human rights, and combat stigma and discrimination against women living with HIV? How was sustainable funding of community-based services ensured? How would the State ensure that health strategies in all these areas had sufficient and sustainable budgetary allocations?
The Expert noted that if abortion was criminalised, many women and girls could end up dead and have their rights compromised. The State should think carefully about whether it was appropriate to keep criminalising abortion.
ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Committee had heard about a practice where police task forces confiscated goods of vendors, often women, who were forced to trade sex to get them back. Could the State party comment on these kinds of situations?
Another Expert said if abortion was being legalised in three specific scenarios, could it be decriminalised beyond these scenarios?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Angolan Constitution enshrined the principle of promoting equality in education, ensuring girls could remain in schools and achieve success at school. Between 2025 and 2026, there were 9.8 million enrolments and over 4.95 million of these were girls. The State faced challenges in ensuring the retention of girls in school, particularly in rural areas, due to poverty, pregnancy and early marriage. The Government had implemented measures to tackle these issues, including ensuring that primary school and school equipment was free of charge. The State was also rolling out the school feeding programme, as well as awareness raising campaigns about sexual and reproductive health.
Despite a deep-seated social pattern, the State was trying to avoid early pregnancies. There was a need to deploy efforts to allow girls to enrol in scientific, technology, engineering and mathematics courses.
Having water in the premises was not as easy as it seemed. There may not be running water, but the State was aiming to reach water from wells and solve the issue that way. Now, no schools were built unless there was access to a water source nearby. Sexual education also needed to cover other communities that were not necessarily in school. There were courses held on periods and menstrual hygiene, among other topics.
Around 51 per cent of those working in the informal sector were women. A scheme existed which aimed to help women register their businesses and have access to microcredit lines. A national fund for employment aimed to fund initiatives which would promote employability and income generation. Most of the beneficiaries of this vocational training were women. Work was carried out to cover all rural areas and help low-income women.
Indicators on health reflected an improvement in maternal and child health care. A budget had been implemented to improve the importance of primary health care units. There had been an increase in the number of health centres in the country. There were partnerships with the United Nations Children’s Fund to provide obstetric care, neonatal checkups and antenatal care.
Abortion was a crime in Angola and covered under the Criminal Code. There were three circumstances in which abortion could be carried out. The State was extending family planning facilities and investing considerable sums to improve persons with disabilities’ access to healthcare. There were accessible doors, bathrooms and signage for persons with disabilities and information on maternal healthcare in braille.
The Committee had adopted two legal instruments on HIV/AIDS and mother-to-child transmission had been reduced. Angola was providing antiretroviral treatment at over 800 health care facilities and offering molecular biological exams to assess the effectiveness of treatment, as well as screenings for children infected with HIV.
The right to life prevailed in Angola, which meant lawmakers had chosen to criminalise abortion. The legal framework on abortion was governed by the Criminal Code. Abortion was a crime except in three specific situations: if the pregnancy was the result of an illegal act, such as incest or rape; if there was a risk to the mother’s life if the pregnancy continued; and if there was an incurable disease in the foetus. The distribution of contraceptives was free of charge in Angola. Contraceptive methods were available in all health centres under the national health system, which were restocked every three months. However, the population often did not accept using contraceptive methods. This was a cultural issue which the State was addressing.
Questions by Committee Experts
ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, applauded the State party's efforts to extend economic, social and recreational opportunities to women, including the informal economy conversion programme; the Kwenda cash-transfer programme, and the Caixa Comunitária pilot targeting financial inclusion for rural women; and encouraging growth in women's competitive sport, including the national women's football team and the advocacy work of the Angolan Women in Sports Association.
There were several concerns, including that Angola was reportedly placed on the Financial Action Task Force grey list due to strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks. How was the State party ensuring greater transparency and gender-responsiveness of its macroeconomic policies and what regulatory provisions existed to reduce exploitation and protect community land ownership among rural women? What concrete measures had the State party taken to address illicit financial flows and corruption?
What strategy was envisaged to substantially expand social protection coverage for women in the informal sector and other vulnerable groups? How would the formalisation of economic operators under the informal economy conversion programme translate into the effective enrolment of women in contributory social security schemes? What measures had the State party adopted to remove barriers to women’s access to credit, land titles and formal financial services, particularly in rural areas? What measures had been undertaken to promote equitable and transparent funding for women’s and girls’ sports, and increase women’s representation in sports leadership?
Another Expert was pleased to see that Angola had taken steps to create favourable conditions for the development of rural women, including through the "National Rural Women Support Plan" and the "My Land" land property certificate distribution plan. However, the scale of land property registration was far from meeting the target. What measures were there in the process of land property registration to protect the land rights of women, especially indigenous women and women with disabilities? Due to the constraints of traditional society and gender roles, rural women had limited opportunities to acquire productive assets for agricultural work and were less educated than women in urban areas. What measures would be taken to improve the living conditions of rural women? How would it be ensured that rural women had equal access to productive assets and could participate in the formulation of local economic and social development plans? How would the right of rural women and girls to education be guaranteed?
In the design and implementation of national climate adaptation and disaster reduction plans, how was the effective participation of rural women and indigenous women ensured? What measures would be taken to protect the legitimate rights and interests of indigenous women?
Another Committee Expert said the Family Code still allowed the marriage of girls from the age of 15 and boys from the age of 16. Many other unions were undertaken, in some cases to "regularise" the situation after sexual abuse. What was the timetable for the adoption of the reform of the Family Code that would establish 18 years as the minimum age for women and men, without exception, also in customary law? What had been the results of the national campaign and how were traditional child unions identified and prevented? What protection did women in polygamous unions have in terms of property, inheritance and maintenance?
Beyond awareness-raising campaigns, what legal assistance and enforcement mechanisms ensured that widows and rural women could assert their inheritance rights in the face of customary practices? How many cases had reached the courts and with what outcome? In how many cases had the abuser's custody or visitation been restricted? How did the law ensure that the post-divorce property division recognised women's non-monetary contributions, including domestic and care work? What reforms ensured that women with disabilities could fully exercise their legal capacity, including decisions about their property, marriage and family? What safeguards protected women with albinism in matters of inheritance, marriage, custody and parental rights? Did the State party envisage establishing a clear and accessible procedure for the legal recognition of gender identity?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Angola was placed on the Financial Action Task Force grey list for monitoring, as certain non-governmental organizations had been flagged for terrorist activities and proliferating weapons of mass destruction. The Government and the judicial system were committed to combatting corruption, and there were cases which had been brought before the courts for trial. These issues fell under the purview of the legislative authorities.
The informal economy conversion programme was launched in 2021, and there had been several milestones. It included roving operations across the markets in Luanda, bringing together eight services under a one-stop shop. The programme sought to provide responses for female traders who had been moved off the street. It provided civil registration, tax and identification number and enrolment in social security with a view to protecting these people. Over 250,000 female traders had been moved into the formal economy as a result of this programme. This was a centralised model with the aim of reaching all Angolan families. The questions on the economy would be answered in writing.
During the 2025-2026 farming year, the agrarian unit helped more than 12 million farmers in family holdings, around 26 per cent of whom were women. Remaining answers would be provided in writing.
The Family Code was currently being amended since its original approval in 1988. Many of the norms provided for in the code were lapsing. The article within the Family Code referring to early marriage was not used. There were no cases in the courts authorising marriages of 14- or 15-year-olds, whether they were boys or girls. This would be more common in far-flung areas where children were obliged to marry for cultural reasons. Angola enshrined the protection of children within its Constitution and only accepted customary law if it dovetailed with State legislation. The State could not provide an exact timeframe on the regulation of the Family Code, as this was a nuanced process and was still before Parliament. Monogamy was the principle under Angolan law.
Angola had been implementing awareness raising campaigns regarding child marriage which were rolled out into communities where child marriage was the most prevalent. Recently, an entire week had been devoted to the prevention of child marriage, including training of health officers and social workers who had been working with communities on this topic. Work was also done with traditional and faith leaders, as a lot of these unions were carried out with their consent. Through this education, parents could see that the place of a girl was at school, rather than getting married young.
Closing Statements
ALCINA LOPES DA CUNHA KINDANDA, Secretary of State for Family and the Promotion of Women, Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women of Angola and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee Experts for their interest and readiness to engage in the constructive dialogue on the implementation of the Convention. This had been an opportunity for Angola to provide information on progress achieved and the outstanding challenges. The Committee’s recommendations would help the country improve its human rights situation.
NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chairperson, thanked Angola for the dialogue, which had helped to provide a better understanding of the situation of women and girls in the country.
___________
Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CEDAW26.022E