Luanda: Approximately 15,880 reports of violence against children were recorded through the SOS Children's Hotline in the first half of this year, the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Louren§o, announced Tuesday in Luanda. Speaking at the workshop on Education for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Violence Against Children and Adolescents, which runs until Wednesday, Ana Dias Louren§o explained that of these cases, approximately 560 are cases of sexual violence and 652 are of child labor exploitation.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Ana Dias Louren§o explained that another 1,895 cases involve physical and psychological violence, emphasizing that 90% of these crimes occur in the victims' homes or churches. The First Lady highlighted that the focus of the action plan is to combat sexual, physical, and psychological violence, recognized as one of the most serious problems affecting women and girls in Angola and around the world, influenced by several factors, including gender.
"The integrated approach reflects the conviction that only through concerted action, involving the government, the judiciary, civil society, and faith communities, can we change this reality," the First Lady said. Ana Louren§o pointed out that Angolan society records many cases of men and women who unworthily use the name of God and the Christian Church to commit acts of violence against innocent children and adolescents, including accusations of witchcraft, a phenomenon that leads to the destruction of bonds, love, care, and protection within families.
The First Lady emphasized that the presence of churches and religious communities at the meeting reinforces the hope of continuing to rely on the recognized social, spiritual, and moral strength of leaders and churches, as guardians of the sacredness of life, love, justice, and the denunciation of evil, to strengthen collective protection networks for child victims of violence, both within the family, churches, and the community. Ana Dias Louren§o recalled a passage from the Bible that tells the story of the family of the boy Moses, stating the importance of faith in seeking the best solutions and joining forces to protect children.
The two-day meeting includes the sharing of knowledge about tools for protecting children's rights, training religious leaders, pastors, and other members of the Church on legal and social instruments for child and youth protection, and encouraging the creation of community support networks in conjunction with the State, through lectures and practical discussions. The meeting reinforces the commitment of the First Lady and the "We Are All Equal" Campaign to building a more just and egalitarian Angolan society, minimizing all forms of gender-based violence through concrete protective actions, legislative advocacy, empowerment of women and children, and the involvement of families and religious congregations. The workshop is taking place as part of the launch of the "We are Equal" campaign led by the First Lady.
