HUAMBO: The head of the MPLA’s women’s organization has once again urged the community to report incidents of child sexual abuse. This appeal was made during a lecture on ‘Family abandonment and sexual abuse’, marking the commencement of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in the region.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Maria Catuvala, a representative of the Woman Organization, expressed concern over the increasing cases of sexual violence against children and adolescents. She emphasized the existence of laws in Angola that severely punish offenders, aiming to reduce this societal issue. Catuvala highlighted that most instances of sexual violence occur within the family, urging mothers to report these incidents to prevent long-term trauma for children.
During these 16 days of activism in Huambo province, the Woman Organization plans to conduct talks across 11 municipalities to encourage societal reflection on the adverse impacts of gender-based violence. Catuvala stressed the importance
of raising awareness that violence affects not only women but also children, adolescents, and men.
The OMA Secretariat in Huambo province has documented 20 cases of domestic violence this year, a decrease from 50 cases in the previous year, some of which have been referred to judicial authorities. Jurist Yolanda Chingongo, who also lectured on the topic, described child abuse as a destructive phenomenon impacting families, particularly women, children, and teenagers. She noted that although the country’s laws criminalize such acts, underreporting remains a significant challenge.
Chingongo called for greater involvement from non-governmental organizations to raise awareness and help reduce these cases, highlighting the critical implications for the country’s future well-being. The OMA, founded in 1961 in Leopoldville by Angolan women as part of the philanthropic association ‘Kudiango’, continues its mission to combat these issues.
