Angola

OHCHR

BACKGROUND

The human rights section of the consecutive UN Missions in Angola has been active since 1995, working within the peace processes launched with the support of the United Nations. Following the resumption of fighting in 1998, the Human Rights Division was largely confined to working in Luanda and Benguela. After the signature of the final peace agreement in In February 2002, the Security Council mandated the Division to assist the Government in protecting and promoting human rights and in building institutions to consolidate peace and enhance the rule of law (Ref. Security Council Resolution 1433 of 15 August, 2002). With the termination of the mandate of the last UN mission in Angola in February 2003 OHCHR developed a project to support peace building in the country.

Two Three years since the end of armed conflict, the Government and civil society have begun to come to terms with the country's human rights commitments and the challenges that still lie ahead. Much remains in terms of respect for Social and economic rights are still not fully respected, and access to justice is limited to the capital. For the first time in the country’s history, national human rights institution is now under establishment in the form of the newly elected (April, 2005) Provedor de Justica, The Human Rights Ombudsman. A process is now underway to establish a national and provincial system of human rights plans of action and institutions. In the absence of a well‑functioning judiciary, such a system may be crucial for ensuring accountability as the country prepares for the second general elections, scheduled for 2006. A process is also underway to establish a national and provincial system of human rights plans of action.

During extensive consultations with the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), Government institutions, other United Nations agencies, donors and civil society groups agreed that OHCHR has an important role to play in the country's transition process, and that it should remain in the country at least until the general elections are held. The Office therefore extended its presence in the country to implement another two year project (2005 - 2006) which will complement the country's efforts to consolidate peace and democracy, to build respect for human rights and the rule of law, and to promote respect for the social and economic rights of all Angolans.

As OHCHR's mandate is limited to human rights promotion, all work related to human rights protection will depend on the office's partners in state and government and in civil society. The Office will also work to bring other UN agencies with a field presence in Angola more systematically into human rights protection activities. OHCHR's main strategy vis - a - vis the Government will be to actively support the establishment and development of the Ombudsman institution, both in Luanda and in the provinces, a national human rights institution with direct links to the provincial human rights committees and to the human rights institutions of civil society and The Office attempts to assist these institutions in achieving the necessary technical and financial resources to actively carry out protection functions in the country.

STRATEGY

As OHCHR's mandate is limited to human rights promotion, all work related to human rights protection will depend on the office's partners in state and government and in civil society. The Office will also work to bring other UN agencies with a field presence in Angola more systematically into human rights protection activities. OHCHR's main strategy vis - a - vis the Government will be to actively support the establishment and development of the Ombudsman institution, both in Luanda and in the provinces, a national human rights institution with direct links to the provincial human rights committees and to the human rights institutions of civil society and The Office attempts to assist these institutions in achieving the necessary technical and financial resources to actively carry out protection functions in the country.

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective is to assist in the consolidation of peace and democracy by strengthening national capacities in human rights and the rule of law. Four immediate objectives are:

- Mainstreaming human rights throughout the society;

- Promoting the rule of law, access to justice and reconciliation;

- Promoting civil and political rights, in view of the 2006 general elections; and

- Promoting the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, and implementation of the rights based strategy to combat poverty.