Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
80th session
Geneva, 28 September–16 October 2026
Consideration of reports: reports submitted by States Parties under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant
Replies of Angola to the list of issues in relation to its sixth periodic report *
[Date received: 25 November 2024]
I.Introduction
1.The Government of Angola hereby submits the additional information requested by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
2.The present replies to the list of issues (E/C.12/AGO/Q/6) were prepared by the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up to Recommendations and the Intersectoral Committee for the Preparation of National Human Rights Reports.
3.The periodic report was prepared using information current up to 2023; these replies therefore also serve to update that report.
II.General information
Application of the Covenant in the courts, training and implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy and its action plan
4.As indicated in paragraph 7 of the periodic report, the Covenant has been referred to in several judgments:
Constitutional Court judgment No. 793/2022, on the right to work and employment stability (Covenant, art. 6)
•Constitutional Court judgment No. 821/2023, on the right to work (Covenant, art. 7)
•Constitutional Court agreement No. 871/2024, on the right to participate in cultural life and religion (Covenant, art. 7)
•Luanda District Court judgments No. 1168/21-C and No. 1169/21-C, on participation in cultural life and the exercise of freedom of religion and belief, money-laundering, women’s rights and employment (Covenant, arts. 7 and 15)
•Benguela District Court, case No. 775/2020 and others, contentious appeal challenging an administrative act, on the demolition of a residence and the right to adequate housing (Covenant, art. 11; the proceedings ended with an agreement between the parties – the Administration and 14 private citizens)
•Luanda Provincial Court ruling No. 2748/11.5B, on the right to health (Covenant, art. 12)
•Luanda Provincial Court ruling No. 2348/10B, on the right to health (Covenant, art. 12)
•Luanda Provincial Court ruling No. 1407/2016, on the right to health (Covenant, art. 12; the proceedings ended with an agreement between the parties)
•Huíla Provincial Court, case No. 2012/0271-A, actio popularis, (art. 14, right to decent housing)
•Huambo Provincial Court, case No. 195/19, on the right to participate in cultural life (Covenant, art. 7)
5.With regard to the training provided to judges, lawyers and law enforcement officials, human rights are covered in the curricula of the National Institute of Judicial Studies, the Training College for Judges and Prosecutors and police training academies, including the National Institute of Forensic Sciences. Between 2018 and 2023, 18 training-of-trainers courses were held, involving more than 2,300 officials who have since carried out training throughout the country for more than 7,000 members of the security forces. These courses include specific modules on economic, social and cultural rights, equality, non‑discrimination and gender, their relevance at the national, regional and international levels and their applicability in judicial settings.
6.The National Assembly, as the legislative branch, implements recommendations through its legislative work. It also supports monitoring of the implementation of the Covenant and the Committee’s recommendations through ongoing dialogue and cooperation with the Intersectoral Committee for the Preparation of National Human Rights Reports and by participating in training and awareness-raising activities. In addition, members of the Tenth Commission on Human Rights, Environment and Citizenship hold regular meetings with the executive branch, in particular the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and with civil society organizations to monitor the human rights situation. Their contributions are reflected in reports on implementation of the Covenant.
7.The National Human Rights Strategy is being implemented across all areas. The State’s assessment indicates that its level of implementation exceeds 80 per cent. The following measures illustrate this progress: the establishment of local human rights committees, now operating in all 18 provinces, all 164 municipalities, 110 of the 518 communes/districts and 8 school clusters; the organization of 45 seminars, conferences and workshops led by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; more than 1,500 activities carried out nationwide by local human rights committees; annual forums with civil society on human rights issues; the signing and implementation of 15 cooperation protocols with higher education institutions; and initiatives in human rights training and education, including the training of 13 specialists at the master’s level and 20 specialists in human rights education by the University of Coimbra.
8.The National Human Rights Strategy establishes monitoring mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of its goals and objectives. These include local human rights committees, which are autonomous intersectoral structures for the protection of citizens and participatory management of human rights, integrated into the organizational structure of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and composed of representatives of public bodies and civil society. The committees operate at the provincial, municipal and community levels. They receive and follow up on complaints concerning human rights and other issues of local concern, many of which relate to economic, social and cultural rights, including labour and environmental disputes, violence against minors and land conflicts. Between 2021 and 2024, the committees received and processed 325 complaints.
Ombudsman’s Office and the Paris Principles
9.The Ombudsman’s Office has been in place since 2015 and partially complies with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), particularly with regard to independence, as it was established pursuant to an act of the National Assembly and benefits from constitutional guarantees and its own mandate. It is currently undergoing accreditation by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.
10.As noted in the periodic report, the Constitution provides that that the Ombudsman’s Office is an independent public entity mandated to protect citizens’ fundamental rights, freedoms and guarantees, that it operates independently and that it enjoys administrative and financial autonomy. In 2023, it was designated a budgetary body, thereby ending its previous status as a budgetary unit dependent on the National Assembly.
11.The Act establishing the Statute of the Ombudsman’s Office (Act No. 29/20 of 28 July) and the Act on the Ombudsman’s Office (Act No. 27/20 of 20 July) were both revised in 2020. These revisions resulted in an increase in staffing, which improved the timeliness of the processing of complaints and claims.
12.The Ombudsman’s Office has branches in 11 provinces. These provincial services have brought the Office closer to the population, resulting in a rise in the number of complaints handled, from 400 in 2020 to 7,386 in 2023. The Office’s reports are made public.
13.With regard to human resources, the Ombudsman’s Office currently has 162 staff members, of whom 40 per cent are women and 60 per cent are men. Recruitment is conducted through national competitive examinations.
14.Within the scope of its mandate, the Office has held several working meetings and conducted fact‑finding visits to organizations that promote and defend human rights.
Protection of human rights defenders and civil society organizations
15.Human rights defenders are generally protected by the law. Dialogue and cooperation with civil society are open and ongoing. In this regard, one of the specific objectives of the National Human Rights Strategy is to strengthen dialogue with civil society, whose members are considered to be essential partners. For example, Angola supported a Human Rights Council resolution aimed at supporting environmental human rights defenders.
16.The Government has established systems for receiving information from and consulting with civil society organizations. Representatives of civil society hold seats on the Council of the Republic, a consultative body that works with the Office of the President, and on the social participation and coordination councils. The President meets with civil society organizations during his visits to the provinces. Human rights forums are held with civil society organizations (six since 2016) and follow-up action is taken in respect of the recommendations resulting from these forums. The Secretary of State for Human Rights and Citizenship has visited the headquarters of various civil society organizations and engages in ongoing dialogue with them. At the provincial level, civil society organizations are represented on the local human rights committees. Government ministries have civil society partners/collaborators with which they engage in permanent dialogue, and they also hold public consultations on policy. Participatory and gender-sensitive budgets have been introduced. Representatives of civil society organizations participate in training activities organized by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, both in Angola and abroad.
17.Regarding the protection of civil society organizations representing the LGBTQI+ community, article 212 of the Criminal Code criminalizes discriminatory acts on various grounds, including gender and sexual orientation, with penalties of up to 2 years’ imprisonment. This approach has been recognized by African and international partners and stakeholders, and Angola is regarded as a country that respects the rights of sexual minorities.
18.Civil society organizations working in the field of economic, social and cultural rights operate without restrictions or undue interference, as reflected in the significant increase in the number of certified/registered associations, from 578 in 2019 to 1,076 at present. Some organizations of persons with disabilities enjoy the status of associations of public interest and thus receive direct funding from the general State budget; others benefit from tax exemptions in their field of activity.
Ethnolinguistic minorities and informed consent
19.In Angola, the term “Indigenous” carries a pejorative connotation, as it was used by colonial powers to portray Angolan peoples as uncivilized. To ensure dignity and respect for local minority communities, they are instead referred to as ethnolinguistic minorities.
20.The Ministry of Culture, through the National Directorate of Communities and Institutions of Traditional Power, has conducted studies and mapping of these minorities and periodically monitors their situation in collaboration with traditional authorities, kings and sobas (traditional village leaders) in the provinces where ethnolinguistic minorities are concentrated.
21.In Angola, ethnolinguistic minorities include both Bantu and non‑Bantu groups. The studies conducted focus on their ways of life, taking due account of their world view, philosophy of life, interests, customs and activities.
22.The Constitution provides for the recognition of, and non-discrimination against, ethnolinguistic minorities. Complementary laws and programmes also recognize the rights of rural communities and ethnic minorities, including their right to own, control and manage ancestral lands. Under the Land Act, the State respects and protects the land rights of rural communities. However, some groups, such as the San, are not traditionally engaged in crop cultivation or livestock herding and therefore do not own agricultural land and do not identify with policies that conflict with or restrict their way of life. Ensuring their protection does not imply forcing them to become sedentary; at the same time, it is recognized that there may be a need to ensure protection of possession, occupation and usufruct rights over rural community lands.
23.A bill on an African languages act is currently under consideration; this initiative will help further promote and strengthen the role of the languages spoken by the peoples of Angola.
24.Specific government programmes, such as the “Kwenda” project in the social protection sector and the Project for the Empowerment of Minors and Learning for All in the education sector, include targeted measures to promote the inclusion of ethnolinguistic minorities. In the health sector, these groups also receive tailored assistance, primarily to address language barriers, through specialized teams that travel to their communities, as many are nomadic.
25.The National Strategy to Provide Education Services to Nomadic Populations and Ethnic Minority Groups in Angola has improved access to education for nomadic populations and ethnic minority groups, particularly for girls.
26.Before approving any land acquisition or implementing resource exploration projects on rural lands, the executive takes prior measures to inform families, communities and all relevant stakeholders and to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of the communities living in the affected areas. Article 16 of the Mining Code, on the rights of communities, requires that mining policy take due account of the customs of communities in areas where mining activities are carried out and contribute to their sustainable economic and social development. On this basis, numerous projects, particularly in the fields of education and health, have been implemented, with companies acting as genuine partners of the State.
27.The authority for mining, in coordination with local State bodies and holders of mining rights, must establish consultation mechanisms that allow local communities affected by mining projects to participate actively in decisions related to the protection of their rights, within the constitutional limits. In other words, consultation is mandatory.
28.The State of Angola actively supports the voluntary sector. In this context, it recently organized seminars on corporate social responsibility in the provinces of Luanda, Huambo, Cabinda, Huíla and Benguela, with more than 700 participants.
Anti-corruption measures
29.Transparency, good governance and the fight against corruption and organized crime have remained priorities for the executive branch since 2017. As noted in paragraph 14 of the periodic report, several laws in this area have been approved or updated.
30.At the institutional level, the National Strategy to Prevent and Repress Corruption 2024–2027 was approved following the completion of the Strategic Plan to Prevent and Combat Corruption 2018–2022. Criminal investigation and prosecution mechanisms have been strengthened in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Service and the National Police. The General Inspectorate of State Administration and the Court of Audit have intensified their work, increasing audits of public finances to detect unlawful practices and ensure accountability within their respective mandates. In addition, the Anti-Corruption Commission, which includes the Financial Intelligence Unit, has been established.
31.From 2017 to September 2022, a total of 2,511 investigative processes were initiated nationwide for crimes of embezzlement, money-laundering, corruption, economic participation in business and other economic and financial crimes involving holders of public office, among others. In 2023, more than 323 proceedings were initiated.
32.Since 2019, the National Asset Recovery Service has recovered more than $7 billion in cash, shares, real estate and movable property. In 2023, the Attorney General’s Office received an international award, recognizing Angola as the country that recovered the most assets.
33.The General Inspectorate of State Administration, the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights have set up direct hotlines to receive complaints about acts of corruption by public officials in the exercise of their functions.
34.To protect whistle-blowers, constitutional and legal safeguards are in place, including Act No. 1/20 of 22 January on the Protection of Victims, Witnesses and Cooperating Defendants in Criminal Proceedings.
Climate change mitigation measures
35.In the field of environmental protection, Angola has sought to integrate international and regional recommendations, including the Paris Agreement, by adopting several laws that incorporate policies and strategies to combat climate change and protect the environment, including:
(a)Constitution of the Republic of Angola;
(b)Angolan Criminal Code (Act No. 38/20 of 11 November), which includes a section on environmental crimes;
(c)Mining Code;
(d)Environment Framework Act (No. 5/8 of 19 June);
(e)Environmental Conservation Areas Act (No. 12/21 of 7 May, amending Act No. 8/20);
(f)National Programme of Action for Adaptation, 2011;
(g)National Strategy for Forest Planting and Reforestation, 2010;
(h)Strategic Plan for Disaster Risk Management, 2011;
(i)Programme to Combat the Effects of Drought in Southern Angola;
(j)Regulations governing environmental conservation areas and environmental licensing procedures (Presidential Decree No. 50/24 of 2 February);
(k)Disaster Preparedness, Contingency, Response and Recovery Plan, 2016.
36.Angola is a State Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. It has launched its second National Climate Change Strategy, covering the period 2018–2030.
37.The State is implementing several projects that contribute to the international climate change mitigation agenda, including a project to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources and a project to promote low‑carbon development. Currently, 65 per cent of the country’s energy is generated from clean sources.
38.Special attention is being given to drought in southern Angola, particularly in the provinces of Cunene, Huíla, Namibe and Cuando Cubango, where 1,340,781 people are affected.
39.As noted in the periodic report, droughts in southern Angola are cyclical and occur mainly between May and October, with varying degrees of severity. In recent years, the executive branch has redoubled its efforts to support populations affected by droughts and other natural disasters, notably through the Programme to Combat the Effects of Drought in Southern Angola, the Cafú Canal, the Programme for Strengthening Resilience and Food and Nutritional Security and the Cova de Leão Dam. These initiatives include the installation of water supply systems, the construction of nine dams and plans to support more than 250,000 beneficiaries.
40.The procedures for licensing and evaluating environmental studies were revised under Presidential Decree No. 117/20 of 22 April, which applies to all entities, including those in the mineral resources, oil and gas sectors. For example, the Ministry of Energy and Water publishes all environmental and social impact studies that are conducted.
41.With regard to measures taken to strengthen preparedness for and the response to natural disasters, a multisectoral civil protection committee operates nationwide to monitor emergency situations and natural disasters.
42.An alert system supports preparedness for evacuations, when necessary, under dignified conditions. The National Climate Change Strategy includes an early warning system for floods and droughts, and awareness‑raising activities have reached more than 500,000 inhabitants.
43.As an example of the implementation of the early warning system and the Strategic Plan for Disaster Risk Management, heavy rains in 2022 and 2023 in the provinces of Luanda, Benguela and Cuanza Norte led to the establishment of emergency task forces to support the resettlement of affected communities. The provincial government of Cuanza Norte is currently relocating families from temporary shelters to permanent homes.
44.In 2022, climate refugees displaced from Namibia by drought along the southern border (as mentioned above) returned to their areas of origin. A shelter was established in December 2021 in Calueque (municipality of Ombadja, Cunene Province) and received its first refugees on 4 January 2022, receiving support from the relevant provincial committee. As at October 2023, the Calueque shelter had registered 2,035 people, including 696 adults and 1,339 minors. Beneficiaries received food and non‑food items every two weeks, as well as medical care through a dedicated health post. A temporary primary school was also established. The Calueque shelter is currently inactive and the affected families have returned to their areas of origin with government support.
III.Issues relating to the general provisions of the Covenant (arts. 1–5)
A.Maximum available resources (art. 2 (1))
Update on data concerning poverty, inequality, gross domestic product, public debt and the general State budget
45.The 2024 census is currently under way to update key indicators, including those relating to people living in poverty. In 2014–2015 the extreme poverty rate stood at 36 per cent.
46.Under the Integrated Programme for Local Development and the Fight against Poverty, implemented with funding from the general State budget, 9,025,120 people were registered as beneficiaries of various assistance programmes and projects between 2018 and 2024. These initiatives include: the construction and rehabilitation of social infrastructure; school meals programmes; construction and rehabilitation of rural infrastructure; reintegration projects for former military personnel and persons with combat-related disabilities; measures to promote productive inclusion, family farming and employment and income generation; assistance for persons with disabilities, including through transport and technical aids; training and technical capacity-building in demining; primary healthcare services; and social cash transfers.
47.Despite the global economic crisis and ongoing challenges, the National Development Plan 2023–2027 allocates 20 per cent of the general State budget to the social sector. This target was exceeded in 2023, when allocations reached 30 per cent, and the share of the budget is expected to increase to 40 per cent in 2025.
48.There are also other budget lines that include investments for these sectors, such as the Integrated Municipal Intervention Plan, the Integrated Plan for Local Development and Poverty Reduction and the Public Investment Programme, in addition to other specific projects with international partners such as the World Bank, United Nations agencies, the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and others.
49.The Integrated Municipal Intervention Plan is focused on supporting development and basic activities, with priority given to social actions, in order to slow down the exodus from rural areas and promote more inclusive economic, social and regional growth. An estimated $2 billion, recovered through anti‑corruption efforts, will be used to implement more than 2,270 projects, primarily in the social sector, including the construction and renovation of schools, municipal hospitals and health clinics.
50.The “Kwenda” project, which is currently being implemented, focuses on social cash transfers. To date, 1,061,798 households have benefited, of which 70 per cent are headed by women. The programme also supports 347 associations and 395 cooperatives, as well as integrated social support centres.
51.Despite ongoing challenges, public finances remain solid and resilient. In July 2024, the debt‑to‑gross domestic product (GDP) ratio stood at 67.2 per cent, reflecting a trend of responsible borrowing. Public debt, estimated at 55.39 million kwanzas in 2023, remains sustainable, and the country has been able to meet its obligations.
52.In 2024, 3.26 per cent of the State budget was allocated to defence.
53.As part of the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID‑19) pandemic, measures were adopted to mitigate its economic impact on businesses, households and the informal economy. These included tax, financial and other support measures for the productive sector, as well as targeted assistance for households and informal workers. With respect to tax measures, certain tax payments were suspended and/or waived.
B.Non-discrimination (art. 2 (2))
Anti-discrimination legislation
54.In Angola, all legislation respects the principle of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in article 23 of the Constitution.
55.As noted above, and in reinforcement of this constitutional principle, the Criminal Code criminalizes all forms of discrimination through various provisions, including article 212.
56.There have been reported and prosecuted cases of discrimination, including a 2022 case in the province of Namibe involving discrimination against a woman with a disability, in which the perpetrator was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, and an ongoing case in Luanda involving discrimination based on sexual orientation (case No. 7377/022-2, B vs PP).
Measures taken to effectively prevent and combat discrimination
57.Some of the principal measures to prevent and combat discrimination in all its forms, including discrimination based on sexual orientation, are set out in the Criminal Code.
58.Angola has participated in the #WeBelongAfrica campaign since 2021 and has carried out various activities in cooperation with the target community and other relevant groups.
59.The National Police has participated in internal training activities and training delivered by civil society organizations representing the target community, with a view to promoting officers’ respect for the rights of community members.
60.As part of its efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS and combat discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS and related groups, the Ministry of Health carries out campaigns with support from the Global Fund. In addition, a study was conducted on the legal environment and the implementation and review of the HIV/AIDS Act, with the participation of community representatives. In 2023, more than six activities were carried out across various provinces, reaching 120 participants.
Refugees and asylum-seekers: Specific data and measures to protect their rights
61.Act No. 10/15 of 15 June establishes the legal framework governing the right to asylum and refugee status.
62.The Act sets out the rights and duties of refugees and asylum-seekers, including their economic, social and cultural rights, and affirms the principle of non-refoulement.
63.For the purposes of implementing the Act, the National Council for Refugees was established as a multisectoral consultative body for the implementation of policies relating to the right of asylum, chaired by the Director General of the Migration and Foreigners Service, with plenary meetings attended by representatives of refugee associations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as observers.
64.The Act sets time limits for the conclusion of proceedings (art. 15 (2)).
65.Legal and socioeconomic measures have been adopted to facilitate the integration of refugees, including vocational training to enable them to work on the same terms as nationals, the issuance of identification documents and awareness-raising initiatives to promote respect for refugees among the local population through educational activities.
66.Through administrative provisions, refugees have access to essential services, including civil registration, bank accounts, education and health services, justice and tax identification numbers. Since the 2019 school year, 3,273 children and adolescents have been integrated into the education system, including 1,592 female asylum-seekers and refugees.
67.There are currently no closed refugee camps; former camps have been converted into neighbourhoods or communities.
68.The National Council for Refugees has registered 52,596 persons of various nationalities seeking international protection, including 16,136 are refugees, 30,129 asylum‑seekers and 6,304 prima facierefugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The latter are located in the Lôvua Camp in Lunda Norte Province and are awaiting voluntary repatriation. Most refugees originate from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, followed by Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Liberia.
69.With regard to the renewal of refugee cards, biometric registration of refugees and asylum-seekers has been under way since July 2023. This process is being conducted in cooperation with the refugee community, non-governmental organizations and UNHCR. To date, 6,612 asylum-seekers have been registered and 3,719 new refugee cards have been issued.
70.Birth registration is carried out for foreign citizens but does not confer Angolan nationality.
71.Angola registers its nationals abroad – most of whom are former refugees in Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo – to protect them from the risk of statelessness.
72.Once a refugee has been issued an identification document, the immigration authority grants a renewable temporary residence permit, in accordance with the legal regime for foreigners, enabling the holder to acquire nationality through naturalization.
C.Equal rights of men and women (art. 3)
Measures to combat discrimination against women, harmful practices and stereotypes, and women’s access to justice
73.Angola is fully committed to eliminating harmful practices, including child marriage and pregnancy, polygamy, female genital mutilation and accusations of witchcraft, among others. To that end, the State continues to raise awareness and is implementing initiatives such as the “Together against Child Pregnancy and Marriage in Angola” campaign. Such practices may give rise to civil and criminal liability.
74.As noted in the periodic report, child marriage is addressed in the Family Code, which is currently under revision. In recent years, the number of marriages involving minors registered by civil registry offices has declined. As at September 2024, no such marriages had been officially registered. However, the practice persists in traditional settings, which is why education and awareness-raising campaigns continue.
75.Community listening centres organize discussions on issues of concern within communities to help prevent these practices. This work has raised awareness among more than 2.5 million people nationwide, 48 per cent of whom are male and 52 per cent female.
76.Under the Constitution and other laws, including the Family Code, the Criminal Code and the Land Act, there is no distinction between women and men with regard to inheritance rights. However, owing to cultural practices, widows in some regions may face discrimination in the allocation of inheritance and land. Such cases may be brought before the courts, where family law applies and provides that the widow is entitled to 50 per cent of her late husband’s estate.
77.Recently, the number of women serving as traditional leaders has increased. There are approximately 1,869 women among a total of 40,075 leaders. The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Social Action, the Family and the Advancement of Women have carried out awareness-raising activities on the role of women among traditional authorities.
78.With regard to women’s access to justice, the State continues to work to make the justice system faster and more effective and to bring it closer to citizens. Judicial and legal reforms continue: Act No. 29/22 of 29 August, establishing the principles and rules for the organization and functioning of the courts of ordinary jurisdiction, has been adopted, along with the Courts of Appeal Act. The statutes of judges and prosecutors have been revised. A total of 39 district courts have been established to replace the former provincial and municipal courts. Three courts of appeal (second-instance courts) have been created in Luanda, Benguela and Huíla. Judges responsible for safeguarding due process during the preliminary investigation phase have begun their functions. The number of justice professionals has also increased, with 772 judges (an increase of 441 since 2019), 790 prosecutors (an increase of 386 since 2019) and 12,000 lawyers and trainee lawyers registered with the Angolan Bar Association.
79.To improve access to justice for vulnerable groups, including women, the Constitution provides for free legal assistance, regulated by the Legal Assistance Act and provided through the Angolan Bar Association with State financial support. In addition, public and private out‑of-court dispute settlement centres, staffed by lawyers and trainee lawyers, provide legal information and advice, as well as mediation and conciliation services.
Women’s participation in formal employment and efforts to reduce disparities
80.The General Civil Service Regulations and the General Labour Act explicitly guarantee equal access to employment, equal pay and non-discrimination. They also provide protection for specific groups, including women, minors and persons with disabilities.
81.The Programme for the Formalization and Promotion of Employability and the Formalization of the Economy, mentioned in the periodic report, has made the following progress:
According to a report of the Ministry of Social Action, the Family and the Advancement of Women entitled “More Inclusion”, women’s representation varies across sectors as follows:
•Women are more represented in the public business sector (39 per cent) than in the private sector (29 per cent)
•The sectors with the highest female representation are education (88 per cent), communication (60 per cent), health (58 per cent), real estate (45 per cent), banking (43 per cent) and consulting
•The sectors with the lowest female representation are services (4 per cent), civil construction (6 per cent) and energy and gas (15 per cent)
• Women account for 22 per cent of staff in energy supply, 24 per cent in water supply and 24 per cent in the oil sector
•In the banking sector, women hold only 23 per cent of positions on boards of directors and executive committees
•Women represent 42 per cent of civil servants
•The Ministry of Social Action, the Family and the Advancement of Women organizes the annual Woman of Merit Award, now in its third year, to promote the recognition of women in all spheres of society
IV.Issues relating to the specific provisions of the Covenant (arts. 6–15)
A.Right to work (art. 6)
Results of the National Development Plan for the Promotion of Employability and the National Strategic Employment Policy
82.Within the framework of the National Development Plan, economic diversification is a priority for strengthening and supporting employment programmes, including the National Development Plan for the Promotion of Employability. In the first half of 2024, the gross unemployment rate stood at 32.3 per cent. As a result of various economic stimulus measures, 292,689 net jobs have been created. After the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, employment levels are beginning to recover.
83.Training and employability are closely linked, particularly in a country such as Angola, which has a predominantly young and rapidly growing population and therefore faces significant labour market challenges. In this context, 11,348 young people have benefited from training, microloans and professional kits to support and promote self‑employment. In addition, 3,343 young people have been referred to the Professional Internship Programme, and 1,283 professional licenses have been issued across various sectors of economic activity.
84.The State is implementing the National Employment Agenda to improve coordination among public and private initiatives and has established the National Employment Fund, with an initial budget of 21 billion kwanzas, to support these efforts. The Agenda is based on four pillars: strengthening labour market governance; stimulating the economy’s capacity to generate jobs across sectors; increasing labour market participation; and enhancing the reach and effectiveness of active labour market policies.
85.Angola currently has 1,642 vocational training centres, 162 of which are managed by the National Institute for Vocational Training, compared with 142 in 2018. Nationwide, 796,528 students are enrolled, 30 per cent of whom are women.
Effective measures for implementing employment quotas for persons with disabilities
86.To ensure compliance with the Regulation on Job Reservations and Procedures for Hiring Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Social Action, the Family and the Advancement of Women conducted a study entitled “More Inclusion” to assess the number of persons with disabilities and women in the labour market. It was found that, among the 493 institutions surveyed in the Luanda Province, there were 318 employees with disabilities – 152 in the public sector and 166 in the private sector. Only 9.7 per cent of public-sector entities and 4.9 per cent of private-sector entities met the relevant quota.
87.The National Recruitment Authority has applied quota rules for including persons with disabilities, which has led to an increase in their recruitment, particularly in the public education and health sectors.
88.In recent years, two key instruments have been adopted to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in Angola:
•Plan for the Support and Protection of People with Albinism
•National Plan for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, which covers policy measures on equality and non-discrimination; promotion of inclusive education, work, employment and vocational training; support for autonomy and independent living; social services and support measures; and the implementation of inclusive approaches to research, innovation and development
89.Both plans were developed in consultation with beneficiary groups and are being implemented with the participation and support of organizations representing persons with disabilities.
Obstacles to the transition to the formal economy and updated statistical data
90.Informal employment is estimated to account for 79.7 per cent of employment. The rate is higher among women (88.5 per cent) than among men (70.8 per cent). As noted in the periodic report, to improve these indicators, the Programme for the Restructuring of the Informal Economy, which promotes the transition from the informal to the formal economy, is under way, and several laws have been adopted or amended for this purpose.
91.By August 2022, the activities of 246,189 informal workers had been formalized. In 2023, a new version of the Programme was launched and, to date, 224 micro-businesses have been formalized.
92.In 2016, the legal and social protection regime for domestic workers was adopted. It defines “domestic worker” and makes contributions to the mandatory social protection system compulsory for this category of workers. The law aims to take thousands of people, especially women, out of the informal sector. By 2024, 11,375 people had been registered as insured and contributions had been paid in respect of 5,067 of them.
93.The Social Protection Framework Act (No. 7/04 of 15 October) establishes three protection regimes: basic social protection, which provides assistance to the most vulnerable groups; mandatory social protection for workers, covering sickness, maternity, occupational disease and accidents, disability and old age, unemployment and family allowances; and complementary social protection, which offers alternative coverage for self‑employed and salaried workers through funds and savings schemes. The legal regime for self‑employed workers also allows migrants and refugees to register. Currently, 17,865 workers are registered.
B.Right to just and favourable conditions of work (art. 7)
Strengthening of the labour inspection system, the minimum wage and decent working conditions
94.Investigations and legal proceedings are carried out by the General Labour Inspectorate through inspection visits, verification activities, follow‑up to complaints, guidance, mediation and other actions, either on the Inspectorate’s own initiative or in response to complaints. During these periodic inspections, compliance with all provisions of the General Labour Act is reviewed, and employers in violation are penalized in accordance with the law.
95.The minimum wage is reviewed annually for both the public and private sectors. In 2024, it was increased to 70,000 kwanzas, with a planned gradual increase to 100,000 kwanzas within 12 months.
96.Informal workers have the right to form associations and meet freely. For example, there are associations of taxi drivers (2,000 members) and motorcycle taxi drivers (500 members), as well as 16 taxi driver associations and cooperatives and an association of women street vendors. These associations work in collaboration with the State. The two main taxi driver associations participated in the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights campaign “I Support Responsible Parenthood”.
C.Trade union rights (art. 8)
Strengthening of the union system and the right to strike
97.The freedom to establish or join a trade union is a constitutional right enshrined in article 50 of the Constitution. Trade union rights are further protected by the Trade Union Act (No. 21-C/92 of 21 August). There are no legal obstacles to the establishment of trade unions.
98.There are three trade union confederations: the União Nacional dos Trabalhadores de Angola-Confederação Sindical (Angola National Workers’ Union-Trade Union Confederation) (UNTA-CS), the largest; the Central Geral de Sindicatos Independentes e Livres de Angola (General Federation of Independent and Free Trade Unions of Angola) (CGSILA); and Força Sindical (Trade Union Force). Together, they represent 249 unions.
99.In 2024, three new unions were established, including the Luanda Union of Trade Unions, which represents 17 trade unions across various sectors and accounts for 30 per cent of the country’s unionized workers.
100.There are no obstacles or restrictions on the right to strike. As noted in the periodic report, from 2018 to 2022 there were 22 corporate and public-sector strikes.
101.Collective bargaining takes place whenever there is a labour dispute, without restrictions or pressure, and consultation mechanisms are in place, such as the National Council for Social Consensus, a specialized consultative body linked to the head of the executive branch, which met three times in 2024. For example, adjustments to the minimum wage are made by mutual agreement.
D.Right to social security (art. 9)
Strengthening the social security system
102.There is now a legal framework governing mandatory social protection for workers in agriculture, fishing and small businesses (see para. 95).
E.Protection of the family and children (art. 10)
Universal access to birth registration
103.To promote civil registration, birth registration and the issuance of a person’s first identity card were made free of charge in 2016.
104.There are currently birth registration offices and identity document issuance offices in all municipalities, including 321 identification offices, 35 offices in diplomatic and consular missions and 25 offices in maternity wards and health facilities. The Government has also authorized one-stop shops for public services. Citizens can register births with the municipal, communal or urban district authorities, and data from their electoral cards have been harmonized with the information contained in the birth register.
105.During the 2017–2022 legislative period, 7,743,256 births were registered and 8,691,671 identity documents were issued, representing an increase of more than 18 per cent compared with the previous period.
106.There are currently more than 15 million citizens with identity documents, which corresponds to an issuance rate of 2.5 million documents per year.
107.A birth registration campaign is currently being carried out in primary schools and first identity documents are being issued in schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
108.The lack of a birth certificate does not prevent individuals from exercising their economic, social and cultural rights, particularly with regard to access to social security benefits, health services and education.
Prevention and elimination of child labour under the National Plan for the Eradication of Child Labour and statistical data
109.The proportion of children involved in child labour is 23 per cent, according to the 2015–2016 multiple indicator health survey.
110.The National Plan for the Eradication of Child Labour was approved in 2021 to combat child labour. The implementing commission works across six areas: situation analysis; prevention, mobilization and coordination; protection and accountability; and the care and participation of children.
111.A nationwide information and awareness-raising programme has been implemented, and provincial secretariats have been established. Informational materials have been disseminated in public spaces, including through posters, vehicle stickers, radio and television broadcasts and children’s radio programmes. The National Plan for the Eradication of Child Labour Song Contest is now in its final stages. According to data from the SOS Menor hotline, the number of reported cases has declined: 14,196 in 2020, 1,894 in 2023 and 403 in early 2024.
F.Right to an adequate standard of living (art. 11)
Combating poverty, supporting vulnerable groups, ensuring decent housing and preventing evictions
112.For information on the results of programmes to combat poverty and assist vulnerable groups, see paragraphs 46 et seq.
113.With regard to decent housing, the National Housing Policy was approved with the aim of improving the population’s quality of life. As a result, 17,740 homes have been made available.
114.Through the national subprogramme to build 200 housing units per municipality, which is currently under way, 24,800 housing units have been constructed in 135 of the country’s 164 municipalities.
115.One of the key areas is self-built housing. Serviced plots of land are being developed in several municipalities and will be made available for self‑build projects.
116.There are also public‑private partnerships involved in implementing the right to housing.
117.Evictions are carried out only by court order, or, in cases of illegal occupation, through administrative procedures for repossession. The Expropriations Act (No. 1/21 of 7 January) establishes the principles and specific procedures governing expropriation for reasons of public utility. It notably provides for the right to fair compensation.
118.The Angolan Government systematically takes steps to inform families, communities and other stakeholders in advance of any project that affects the population.
119.At the provincial government level, resettlement plans are in place for populations living in risk areas and in precarious housing, including dwellings on drainage basins, near railway lines or State reserve areas, in coastal zones or close to sites where the extraction of inert materials may pose risks to human health. New neighbourhoods and communities have been built to resettle affected residents, including Bairro Angola, Marconi Central, Kalawenda Central and Zangos 0–4 in Luanda, Panguila in Bengo and the Chavoa neighbourhood in Huíla, where more than 52,000 people now live, ensuring dignified conditions for those relocated. Monetary compensation is provided in cases of lawful occupation and in disputes between individuals resolved by a court decision.
Strengthening food and nutritional security
120.As noted in the periodic report, several programmes and projects are being implemented to support human resilience, including the nutritional security component of the “Kwenda” project, a pilot project in Cabinda, agricultural development initiatives and the Programme for Strengthening Resilience and Food and Nutritional Security in southern Angola, which has improved food and nutritional security for families in provinces affected by drought.
121.These projects focus on access to water, promotion of food and nutritional security and small food processing and marketing initiatives.
122.Key results of the Programme for Strengthening Resilience and Food and Nutritional Security up to the second quarter of 2024 include the following:
(a)270 hectares were cultivated to boost agricultural productivity, exceeding the initial target of 224 hectares (over 100 per cent achieved);
(b)78,550 women of reproductive age and caregivers of children under 5 participated in community awareness‑raising activities, surpassing the initial target of 60,000 (over 100 per cent achieved);
(c)402 small water infrastructure projects were built or rehabilitated, against an initial target of 500 (80 per cent achieved);
(d)747 civil servants were trained in food and nutrition security, against an initial target of 760 (98 per cent achieved).
Efforts to ensure universal access to water
123.Every year, investments are made to expand access to water services. The current coverage rate is 56 per cent. For the period 2023–2027, the construction of 1.4 million household connections is planned. This will provide water access to more than 7 million people, raising the coverage rate to 61 per cent.
124.Special attention is being given to drought in southern Angola, particularly in the provinces of Cunene, Huíla, Namibe and Cuando Cubango, where 1,340,781 people are affected. Under the emergency assistance programme established in 2019, 114 out of 171 water points have been rehabilitated, and 54 new water points have been built in Huíla and 43 in Namibe. The Cafu Canal, a water transfer system from the Cunene River extending over 165 km and comprising 31 reservoirs, was opened in April 2022. Six large retention dams and their associated canals are currently under construction.
125.The sewerage network has expanded considerably in recent years. All built-up areas and neighbourhoods are equipped with sanitation services. Given that much of the population lives in peri‑urban areas, special attention is being given to shifting from an infrastructure-based approach to a service-based approach. This will promote a more inclusive sanitation system and enable better integration of sanitation solutions with urban services.
G.Right to physical and mental health (art. 12)
Measures to ensure universal access to healthcare
126.In 2017, Angola had 2,612 health units; by 2023, this number had risen to 3,341, an increase of 729 units, mainly at the primary level, as a result of the implementation of the Integrated Municipal Intervention Plan.
127.The expansion of health infrastructure has been accompanied by the annual allocation of funds to municipalities for primary healthcare, as part of efforts to deliver health services at the municipal level. The objective is to improve the availability of quality health services for the prevention and treatment of the diseases most prevalent in the population by bringing care closer to communities. Around 60 per cent of municipal health units now provide the basic package of essential care and medicines, up from 30 per cent in 2017. In addition, 80 per cent of health units nationwide now receive essential medicines, medical devices and other health products, compared with 40 per cent in 2017.
128.Over the last five years, 41,093 staff members have been recruited and deployed mainly in primary care, representing an increase of 40.5 per cent in the workforce of the Ministry of Health.
129.With regard to staff training and qualifications, a specialized training plan for 38,000 professionals across all career streams is under way.
130.To strengthen medical and pharmaceutical services, logistics are being improved through bulk procurement, under which medicines and medical supplies have been acquired for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS programmes, as well as vaccines and treatments for hypertension and diabetes.
131.As a result of these investments, medical evacuations abroad by the National Health Board have decreased, routine immunization coverage has improved, deaths from malnutrition have declined, the success rate in tuberculosis treatment has increased by 70 per cent, capacity for diagnosis and treatment of leprosy has expanded and the number of primary healthcare units diagnosing and monitoring hypertension and diabetes has risen by 70 per cent.
132.Although malaria remains the most commonly reported disease, the malaria mortality rate has fallen from 35 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022 to 20 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in the first half of 2024.
Measures to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services
133.The Comprehensive Action Strategy for Adolescents’ and Young People’s Health, which promotes quality healthcare for adolescents and young people from the perspective of gender equality, with particular emphasis on sexual and reproductive health, has helped to raise awareness of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights in both urban and rural areas. Key results include:
•An increase in prenatal care coverage from 16 per cent in 2018 to 73 per cent in 2021
•An increase in births in healthcare facilities, attended by trained professionals, from 25 per cent in 2017 to 47 per cent in 2021
•An increase in the proportion of health units offering at least three modern family planning methods from 30 per cent in 2018 to 60 per cent in 2021
134.A comprehensive package of maternal and child healthcare is being implemented, including family planning, prenatal consultations, immunization, medical attention at childbirth, postnatal consultations, newborn care, emergency obstetric and neonatal care and check-ups to monitor children’s growth and development. This package has contributed to reductions in maternal and child mortality.
H.Right to education (arts. 13 and 14)
Reducing school dropout rates and promoting enrolment in education
135.The number of children out of school has been reduced by 40 per cent. To reduce school dropout rates, a school meals programme is being implemented under the supervision of the municipal governments. It currently benefits 27.3 per cent of the pupils enrolled in primary education.
136.The Project for the Empowerment of Minors and Learning for All includes a scholarship programme for students in lower secondary education and the first and second years of youth and adult education in public and public‑private schools, with the aim of reducing school dropout rates and promoting student retention.
137.The pilot phase of the scholarship programme was implemented in the provinces of Luanda and Bengo and concluded in the 2022/23 academic year, benefiting 20,707 lower secondary students (49 per cent female and 51 per cent male). During the programme’s expansion phase, it is expected to benefit approximately 900,000 students.
138.To prevent pregnant students from dropping out of school, the Project for the Empowerment of Minors and Learning for All provides training sessions and talks on sexual and reproductive health and the prevention of teenage pregnancy. In the province of Luanda, across both public and private schools, only 0.16 per cent of girls enrolled are pregnant.
Improving the quality of education
139.To ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education, legislative, policy and strategic measures have been adopted to guarantee the full right to education, with a focus on building schools that are accessible to children with disabilities.
140.From 2018 to 2023, 772 new schools were built and 313 were renovated, bringing the total number of schools to 12,627. This represents a significant increase in the capacity of the education system. The country currently has 228,388 teachers, recruited through public competitions, who teach 9,253,713 students.
141.The proportion of girls at different levels of the education system in the 2024/25 academic year is as follows:
•Preschool: 48 per cent
•Primary education: 48 per cent
•Lower general secondary education: 48 per cent
•Upper general secondary education: 44 per cent
•Lower technical and vocational secondary education: 51 per cent
•Upper technical and vocational secondary education: 45 per cent
•Teacher training (secondary level): 46 per cent
•Higher education (overall): 50.13 per cent
142.In 2018, the Ministry of Education introduced sex education into the primary and secondary school curricula, thereby expanding access to information, particularly for girls.
143.As noted above, the Project for the Empowerment of Minors and Learning for All is under way. It includes a component to support sexual and reproductive health, including through the distribution of sanitary pads, and to improve school conditions, particularly sanitation facilities, to help keep girls in school. It also supports students in catching up on their studies through to upper secondary level in adult education programmes. Approximately 250,000 youth and adults have benefited, especially women and girls in rural areas. In addition, there are local initiatives led by the provincial governments, such as in Luanda, where the “My Menstrual Pad” project was launched in October 2024.
I.Cultural rights (art. 15)
144.The Ministry of Education is implementing the Curriculum Adaptation Programme 2018–2025, which provides for the inclusion of national languages in school curricula, and the National Strategy for the Delivery of Education to Nomadic Groups and Ethnic Minorities in Angola, which has improved the situation of nomadic groups and ethnic minorities, particularly with regard to the rights of children, who often face barriers to access to education, drinking water and other means of subsistence. For example, Khoisan children in the provinces of Cunene and Huíla and children from the Mucubai, Kuissi and Kwepe communities in the province of Namibe attend primary and secondary schools without discrimination and are taught, in some cases, by teachers from their own ethnic groups. In Cuando Cubango Province, for example, 80 children from the Khoisan community are spread across two classes taught by two teachers from their own community.
145.In addition, measures have been taken to promote multilingual and intercultural education through the inclusion of African languages in curricula, thereby fostering the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity. Under the Project for the Empowerment of Minors and Learning for All, bilingual books are being developed for instruction in Tchokue–Portuguese, Kikongo–Portuguese, Kimbundo–Portuguese, Ganguela–Portuguese, Olunyaneka–Portuguese, Oshivambo–Portuguese and Umbundu–Portuguese, promoting the use of minority languages in schools.
146.A bill on the languages of Angola is currently under consideration for approval.
Ensuring access to and the accessibility of the Internet and scientific developments
147.Angola has 11.139 million Internet users. The “Connect Angola” programme facilitates Internet access for the population and already has 366,000 users. Open data portals and online public services have been established to promote universal access to information.
148.With regard to efforts to improve access to information, particularly for vulnerable groups, the following measures may be noted: (a) expanded radio signal coverage nationwide; (b) implementation of the “Connect Angola” programme to extend communication and Internet services to remote areas; (c) expansion of the country’s fibre-optic network, enabling the entry of new telecommunications service providers; and (d) an increase in the number of media libraries.
149.Other relevant measures include initiatives to improve access to education for children with disabilities, such as: partnerships with associations of and for persons with disabilities in the fields of education and continuous teacher training; the training of 150 teachers (100 in Angolan Sign Language and 50 in Braille); a study on sexual and reproductive health involving 60 girls with hearing impairments in five provinces; and the production of 60 informational booklets and brochures, including the Maternal and Child Health Handbook in Braille, as well as 5,000 copies of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.