Women parliamentarians concerned about cases of domestic violence

 Luanda – Family breakdown and the increase in cases of domestic violence are among the main concerns of the Group of Women Parliamentarians.

The concern was voiced Thursday by the vice Speaker of the National Assembly, Américo Cuononoca, when speaking at the opening of the workshop on the 16 days of activism to end violence against women and girls.

Américo Cuononoca placed greater emphasis on physical, psychological, labour, economic, patrimonial and sexual violence.

He said that in 2021, 2,929 cases of violation of women's rights were registered, with 1,604 cases of family abandonment, 759 of psychological violence, 170 of sexual violence and 87 of physical violence.

Cuononoca stated, at the time, that the fight against domestic violence requires changes in mentality, through educating girls about premature marriages, early pregnancies, sexual harassment and other mechanisms that mitigate the situation within the family.

He backed the strengthening of mechanisms for the social and legal protection of families and greater support from services specialised in assisting victims, as well as counseling and re-education centers for aggressors.

He said it is a phenomenon that requires multi-sector involvement (parliament, Executive, justice bodies, civil society, traditional and religious authorities).

Addressing the event, by videoconference, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, stated that the data from the United Nations indicate that in 2021 about five girls or women were killed every hour.

These are deaths related to murders that occurred within the family, with two out of three women reporting having suffered violence or knowing someone who had been victim. However, only 10 percent were denounced.

The campaign “16 days of activism to end violence against women” was launched in 1991.

At the time, it was organised by the Women's Global Leadership Center, which set the period from November 25 - December 10 to discuss, reflect on and denounce the various forms of discrimination and violence against women in the world.