Angola: Protection available to victims of domestic violence whose husbands are politically influential (1992 to April 2001)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 11 April 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AGO36902.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Angola: Protection available to victims of domestic violence whose husbands are politically influential (1992 to April 2001), 11 April 2001, AGO36902.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bdf830.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on the services available to victims of domestic violence in Angola is limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. No information specific to whether protection is available to spouses of influential husbands could be found.
Country Reports 2000 reports the following on violence against women in Angola:
Violence against women was widespread. Credible evidence indicated that a significant proportion of homicides was perpetrated against women, usually by spouses. In 1997 the Ministry of Women and Family was created to deal in part with violence against women. The Government continued its project to reduce violence against women and improve the status of women, and efforts during the year included public education campaign. Allegations of rape by Government forces in the central highlands increased during the year (see Section 1.c.). There were some unconfirmed reports of rape by UNITA forces (2001, Section 5).
In her March 1999 report on violence against women, the UN Special Rapporteur, Radhika Coomaraswamy, reported that no measures had been "adopted systematically" in Angola to combat violence against women or to provide support services for victims of domestic violence (10 Mar. 1999).
In 1999, the South African Development Community (SADC) Gender Monitor reported that the Angolan government had not adopted any specific legislation addressing the issue of violence against women (1999). The Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC) reported in December 2000 that the Angola Women's Organisation had established centres to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence. The report provides no additional information on these centres.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 2001. United States Department of State, Washington, DC.
South African Development Community (SADC) Gender Monitor. 1999. "A Life Free From Gender Violence."
Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC). December 2000. Alice Kwaramba. "Rights Delayed Are Rights Denied."
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). 10 March 1999. Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Submitted in Accordance With Commission on Human Rights Resolution 1995/85. Additional Sources Consulted IRB Databases LEXIS/NEXIS World News Connection (WNC) Internet Sites, including: Amnesty International Angola Peace Monitor [London]. Daily Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg]. Search Engine Human Rights Watch ReliefWeb UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate UNDP UNIFEM World Health Organization Search Engines: Fast Search Google
