Brasilia: The Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola, Carolina Cerqueira, emphasized the necessity of gender equality to ensure equal opportunities, rights, and responsibilities for both women and men during her speech at the G20 Parliamentary Forum in Brasilia. The theme of the forum was ‘Women in Power: Expanding Female Representation in Decision-Making Spaces’.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Cerqueira highlighted persistent barriers faced by women and girls on the African continent, particularly in rural areas, due to cultural and traditional practices. These barriers hinder access to education and vocational training, which negatively impacts future generations. She proposed measures to boost female participation in decision-making roles and encouraged women to inspire and mentor younger generations by following their dreams.
In her address to the Speakers of Parliaments from G20 member countries, Cerqueira shared Angola’s progress in gender equality. She noted that women constitute over hal
f of Angola’s population and highlighted the country’s advancements in increasing female representation in leadership roles. She cited her own position as the first female parliament Speaker in Angola as a significant milestone in the nation’s parliamentary history.
Cerqueira stated that the Angolan parliament currently has 39.5% female representation, placing it 25th in the global ranking of parliamentary representation. She emphasized Angola’s efforts to enhance women’s participation in decision-making through ratifying gender equality-promoting instruments and formulating policies for equitable opportunity and representation.
Furthermore, the introduction of a gender-sensitive budget in Angola was mentioned as a robust commitment to gender inclusion, promoting transparency and resource allocation that addresses all citizens’ needs. Cerqueira advocated for parity laws to enforce gender quotas in political and administrative roles and suggested robust implementation mechanisms like ‘zebra rules’ to ensure
equal representation.
The G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit, attended by representatives from around 36 countries, is focusing on issues such as combating hunger, poverty, and inequality, promoting socio-environmental development, and fostering an inclusive ecological transition. The summit will conclude with a joint statement to be presented at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November.
The P20, formed in 2010, consists of parliaments from the world’s wealthiest nations, aiming to address global issues through inter-parliamentary collaboration. The 10th Summit is hosted by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies and the Brazilian Senate, in partnership with the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Angola is represented by a delegation led by Carolina Cerqueira, alongside MPs Vigílio Tyova, Aia-Eza Troso, and Ariane Nhany.