UN Authority Figures

UN Human Rights Council: Angola

Seventeen activists who arranged a reading of a book by an American political scholar were convicted of rebellion against the government and sentenced to prison, some for more than eight years. Photo: Some of the activists after being arrested.
Source: The Guardian, March 28, 2016

Mission of the Human Rights Council:
"The General Assembly...2. Decides that the Council shall be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner; 3. Decides also that the Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon..." (Resolution 60/251)

Angola's Term of office: 2018-2020

Angola's Record on human rights:
""The three most important human rights abuses were cruel, excessive, and degrading punishment, including reported cases of torture and beatings; limits on freedoms of assembly, association, speech, and press; and official corruption and impunity. Other human rights abuses included arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life; harsh and potentially life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; lengthy pretrial detention; impunity for human rights abusers; lack of due process and judicial inefficiency; forced evictions without compensation; restrictions on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); harassment of and violence against women and children; child labor; trafficking in persons; limits on workers' rights; and forced labor... accountability was weak due to a lack of checks and balances, lack of institutional capacity, a culture of impunity, and widespread government corruption."
(U.S. State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2016, Angola)

Archive