Luanda – The Angolan Executive has always paid attention to the defence and promotion of gender equality as a matter of social justice and sustainable development imperative.

This was said Wednesday in Luanda by the vice-president, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, while opening the extraordinary session of the Portuguese Speaking Community (CPLP) Gender ministers.

According to Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, progress requires an effective and autonomous participation of women in the country’s political, economic, social and cultural affairs.

 
He spoke of the need for a major articulation among the various ministries, taking into account the dimension and scope of the political actions in favour of gender.
 

The vice-president said as well that the Government of Angola has developed policies that guarantee right and opportunity to all citizens, with a special focus on the most vulnerable groups of the society, like children, women and third age people.

According to him, this has been done through the creation of juridical mechanisms.

 
He said that this is why Angola is a signatory of several juridical instruments of international and regional organisations like the United Nations, African Union, Southern African Development Community (SADC) whose basic elements include gender equality and fight against all forms of discrimination.
 
 
The official stated that after the 2008 election, the number of women with significant participation in decision making organs has increased considerably: 38,6 percent of the National Assembly (Parliament)’s 220 MPs are famele, with 23,5 percent in Government.
 

The vice-president also mentioned the contribution of Angola to the creation of very important instruments for the promotion and development of gender equality within the CPLP.
 
 
As an example, he mentioned the “Praia Declaration” on education, the accord of cooperation among the CPLP member states on Hiv/Aids, the resolution against Aids and on the fight against exploration of child labour in the community, the “Estoril Declaration” and the strategic plan for cooperation in health in the community.

 
He stated that in addition to the progress scored in the domain of legal guarantees of women rights, sustainable measures have to be implemented with a view to the reduction of famine and poverty.

 
The vice-president also spoke of the need for a continued effort to ensure education, health and environment clearance, job, housing, security and social justice.

 
To him, one of the challenges in the promotion of gender equality requires the accomplishment of the millennium development goals defined by the United Nations in 2000.