Lubango: Traditional authorities from several Angolan provinces condemned on Thursday cases of sexual abuse against minors in Lubango, Huila province. They called for tougher measures to combat this social phenomenon.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the call was made during the Constituent Assembly of the Council of Traditional Power of the National Association of Traditional Sovereignty of Angola (ANSTA), which is taking place in Huila until Saturday. Muenenganado, the chieftain of Luanda, stated that sexual abuse of minors and physical violence are serious crimes that have been denounced by traditional authorities since ancient times.
He emphasized that rural communities reject practices that violate human dignity and advocated for holding the perpetrators of these crimes accountable. He noted that cases reported to the community should be addressed through local conflict mediation and subsequently submitted to the relevant authorities. He further indicated that his area of jurisdiction has registered five cases of abuse this year, compared to approximately 25 cases last year.
Queen Laurinda Fernanda Kaoma of Matala expressed concern about the increase in cases of sexual violence against minors, particularly in urban areas. She called for unity among communities and institutions to combat the phenomenon and ensure comprehensive protection of children.
Meanwhile, Namibia Tchongolola, the queen consort of Bailundo, urged families to strengthen dialogue and monitoring of children, emphasizing that prevention begins within the family. She also stressed the need for harsher penalties for perpetrators of sexual crimes against minors, acknowledging that these crimes leave deep scars on victims.
