Luanda: Over the past 12 months, the National Institute for Child Protection (INAC) has successfully removed over 2,000 children from the streets and placed them in child protection centers across the country, as announced by Paulo Kalesi, the INAC director, during a recent conference.

According to Angola Press News Agency, Kalesi made this announcement at an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of National Independence and the 35th anniversary of Angola's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. He attributed these results to robust public policies aimed at safeguarding at-risk children.

Kalesi reported that more than a thousand children have been reintegrated into their families through mediation and social support processes conducted by INAC. The remaining children are participating in specific intervention programs. He noted a decline in cases of sexual abuse against minors, an increase in children enrolled in education programs, and a reduction in infant mortality in the first hours of life. This progress, he stated, encourages authorities to continue their investment in these policies.

Despite the positive outlook, Kalesi acknowledged existing challenges, especially concerning children living on the streets and those involved in child labor. He highlighted the ongoing issue of sexual abuse against minors, with more than 20 cases reported weekly, averaging nearly four cases per day.

Kalesi revealed that 80% of these assaults occur within the family, often perpetrated by parents, uncles, or stepfathers, and emphasized that such crimes are not confined to low-income families. "Abuse happens in all social strata," he stated.

The conference, organized by the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Women's Promotion (Masfamu), INAC, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), focused on the legal advances and challenges in holding child sexual abusers accountable and the private sector's role in improving children's conditions.