CRES\002\11\2015: RESOLUTION ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE SITUATION IN ANGOLA
CRES\002\11\2015: RESOLUTION ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE SITUATION IN ANGOLA
We, the participants of the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 57thOrdinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 31st African Human Rights Book fair held in Banjul, The Gambia from 31st October–2nd November 2015;
Deeply concerned with the arbitrary restrictions on the work of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), including through harassment, intimidation and arrest of HRDs, as well as the use of restrictive laws in Angola;
Concerned about the state security charges against 20 Human Rights Defenders in Angola, including 15 activists arrested and detained on charges of preparing a coup and an attack against the President; two women Human Rights Defenders also charged in connection with the alleged attempted coup, as well as 3 other Human RDs in Cabinda, Jose Marcos Mavungo, Arao Bula Tempo and Manuel Biongo;
Call upon the African Commission to:
- pass a resolution in support of the recent UN Special Rapporteur which called on Angola to release all jailed human rights defenders and drop charges against them.
- urge the Angolan government to revise the controversial points on the Presidential Decree 74/15 of 23rd March, 2015 about the activities of the NGOs and ensure that the document is In conformity with the Constitution and the law of Associations.
- urge the Angolan Government to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur which called on Angola to set up an independent team to investigate an alleged massacre In The central province of Huambo with wildly differing casualty figures.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia – 2nd November 2015
