Planting of indigenous trees at the Agostinho Neto Memorial in Luanda, to mark the launch of the Angolan Voluntary Pilot Initiative.
Luanda, 22 May 2024 - Following a phase of political stabilization since 2002, Angola has been experiencing rapid economic growth and successful democratic elections. Though one of the richest biological diverse countries in Africa, the country’s social development and employment challenges also make it an attractive ground for organized crime, with human trafficking, flora trafficking, and illicit mining as some of the most prevalent crimes present in the country.
Unfortunately, the capacities of organized crime groups to advance grow faster than those of society and the government to contain them. For example, despite efforts made by the government, in the past five years there has been an increase in human trafficking cases in the country and identifying victims is a constant struggle. Children, migrants, and low-income families are some of the vulnerable groups most affected by this crime.
The question of how to address human trafficking - and specifically child trafficking - is a recurrent one for both government and civil society, with family vulnerabilities and the role of poverty highlighted by civil society as some key aspects to consider when identifying responses against it.
Since the launch of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) Review Mechanism in 2020, Member States to the Convention and its protocols have begun examining its implementation and identifying areas for further support. Essential to reinforce the fight against organized crime, the UNTOC Review Mechanism is a way to find out what works and adjust approaches to curb the advance of organized crime, including human trafficking.
With varying obstacles encountered in this process, the role played by civil society in this journey is often overlooked or deemed dispensable by States. However, what evidence and experience has shown is that the more diverse and inclusive the revision of policies is, the more likely they are to overcome challenges and achieve a successful implementation.
“We come with extensive knowledge and an embracing vision of what is the role that each one of us needs to play in society, how each one of us needs to engage in combatting transnational organized crime,” said Mavunga Joaquim, African Cooperation and Development Network (RACD).
Angola is a case where civil society spaces for participation in governmental processes are still evolving, including in the possibility of reviewing the implementation of security related policies. With a sometimes-competing relationship, these two actors encounter difficulties in seeing the advantages of a collaborative interaction with one another.
The Voluntary Pilot Initiatives (VPI) allow precisely for such participation and aim to build bridges between governments and non-governmental stakeholders. They are designed to highlight both obstacles and joint solutions in response to human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, and arms trafficking, the main areas covered by the UNTOC.
“The Angolan Executive branch recognises the crucial role that civil society has played and must continue to play in the success of this national endeavour, particularly in the field of preventing organized crime, and therefore urges the need to establish a platform for open dialogue between the various stakeholders, public and private, as well as the combination of the various existing synergies, aiming to achieve more holistic positive results”. These words shared by Mr Osvaldo Benza, State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, opened the Voluntary Pilot Initiative for Angola that was launched in Luanda on 23 April 2024.
With over 30 representatives from five different ministries, Angola’s government showed a strong commitment to the UNTOC Review Mechanism process and to identifying joint priorities with non-governmental stakeholders. With 23 representatives from 14 different organizations, non-governmental stakeholders brought the views of youth, women, private sector, human rights, development, and crime prevention organizations. As a result of this opportunity, joint priorities to advance collaboratively were identified, including the sensitization of people to prevent crimes and reinforcing public security, intelligence services, and denunciations in the fight against trafficking in human beings.
Taking advantage of the solid governmental foundation established to fight crimes like human trafficking, through for example the National Human Rights Strategy, or the National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, the collaboration with civil society in Angola can take prevention measures and early warning systems into their next step of implementation and action.
“This experience exceeded our expectations. The government of Angola didn’t have a clear understanding of the participation of civil society in the UNTOC Review. It was a learning process and an experience sharing opportunity, to make us see all the work we have looking forward and how working with civil society is going to make us implement the UNTOC better,” concluded Dilma Chuva from Angola’s Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. These words reflect the collaborative approach and meaningful dialogue of two actors who may struggle to find common points in certain contexts, but who ultimately share the same goal: a safer and more functional Angola.
Looking ahead, a platform to centralize the contributions of civil society in the fight against organized crime – the Angola Civil Society Alliance – will be set up, allowing for clear and coordinated communication channel with the government to continue joint efforts.
SE4U Project website:
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/ngos/se4u-main-page.html
UNODC Civil Society Unit website:
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/ngos/cst.html
