ANGOLA: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Current situation
1. CURRENT SITUATION
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
In just 5 years, Angola has gone from the 162nd position in the Human Development Index (HDI) drawn up by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to the 146th position in 2010, which has brought it close to the level of Senegal, ranked 144, and placed it further away from Mozambique, Niger or Mali. Despite the country’s vast oil and diamond reserves, the World Bank calculates that two thirds of the 16 million Angolans live on less than 2 dollars a day. According to UNICEF, one out of every four children die before the age of five, 10.5 million people have no sanitation services and 12,000 maternal deaths are recorded each year.
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS INDICATORS
The lack of any Demographic & Health Survey for Angola makes it difficult to describe the situation on the ground and compare it with that of other countries. However, some sources of information are available and contribute with some figures in the field of sexual and reproductive health and give as well as offer an overview of the situation.
FERTILITY RATE
5.6 children per woman.
MATERNAL MORTALITY
610 deaths for every 100,000 live births, which is one of the highest figures in the African continent. The risk of dying from causes related to pregnancy or delivery faced by women is 1 in 29, according to UNICEF data, although other sources calculate it as 1in 7. Only 50% of births are attended by qualified health professionals in health centres.
PREVALENCE OF CONTRACEPTION
Very low, around 4.5%
EARLY MOTHERHOOD
No data available
EARLY MARRIAGE
No data available.
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
No data available.
UNSAFE ABORTION
36 of every 1000 women between the ages of 15 and 44.
SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION
Sentimental relationships between women and between men are illegal.
HIV/AIDS
Prevalence stands at around 2.1% according to national health sources. Data disaggregated by sex is not available.
Instruments and policies
2. SRHR: INSTRUMENTS, MECHANISMS, LEGISLATION AND POLICIES
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS SIGNED ON GENDER EQUALITY
Angola has ratified the main instruments for the protection of women’s rights, specifically CEDAW, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and its respective protocols, as well as the 2008 SADC Gender Protocol.
NATIONAL LEGISLATION FRAMEWORK ON GENDER EQUALITY
Despite the international agreements subscribed and the fact that the Angolan Constitution recognises gender equality and equal rights and responsibilities for all people, regardless of their race, ethnic group, sex, religion or ideology, the lack of equality in legal and practical terms suffered by women remains clear. There has been very recent and relevant legal progress, such as the passing of the Law against domestic violence promoted by the Ministry of Family and Promotion of Women (MINFAMU), which fills a gap in the national Penal Code, which does not contemplate violence-related incidents within the family. Civil Society calculates that for real changes to take place in the elimination of violence, more social and legal measures are required
POLICIES AND STRATEGIES IN GENDER EQUALITY, SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS
Angola has a National Strategic Plan to fight Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS, a document of policies and standards on reproductive health services and a strategy for the promotion of gender equality. It has launched the Campaign for the Accelerated Reduction in Maternal Mortality (CARMMA).
We have found no information on mechanisms for civil society participation in the definition and drawing up of policies and strategies in gender or SRHR.
Map of actors
3. MAP OF ACTORS
CIVIL SOCIETY EXAMPLES
Civil society and women’s organisations in Angola face a difficult, albeit encouraging, situation in the process of peace building. The Organisation of Angolan Women is one of the strongest within the women’s movement. Apart from participating and contributing to the drawing up of gender policies in the country, this organisation takes care of daily support for violence victims and manages a shelter home with enough space to lodge four families at once. Moreover, it organises talks in the communities on domestic violence and supports centres that provide advice to women, offering emergency credits and matrimonial therapy.
Summary tables
|
ANGOLA |
|
|
HDI |
146 |
|
FERTILITY RATE |
5.6 children per woman |
|
MATERNAL MORTALITY |
610 deaths for every 100,000 live births |
|
PREVALENCE OF CONTRACEPTION |
4.5 % |
|
EARLY MOTHERHOOD |
No data available |
|
EARLY MARRIAGE |
No data available |
|
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE |
No data available |
|
UNSAFE ABORTION |
36 of every 1000 women between 15 and 44. |
|
SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION |
Sentimental relationships between women and between men are illegal. |
|
HIV/AIDS |
2%, data disaggregated by sex is not available. |
|
ANGOLA Human Development Index: 146 |
||||||
|
1. CURRENT SITUATION |
2. INSTRUMENTS, MECHANISMS, LEGISLATION AND POLICIES |
3. MAP OF ACTORS |
||||
|
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS |
Sexual and Reproductive Rights Indicators |
International Gender Equality Instruments Ratified |
National Legislation |
Gender Equality and SRHR Policies and Strategies |
CIVIL SOCIETY EXAMPLES IN SRHR |
|
|
- 2/3 of the 16 million Angolans live on less than 2 dollars a day - 1 out of every 4 children die before the age of 5 - 10.5 million people have no sanitation services - Each year 12,000 maternal deaths are registered. |
- FERTILITY RATE: 5,6 children per woman. - MATERNAL MORTALITY: 610 deaths for every 100,000 live births. The risk of a woman dying from causes related to pregnancy or birth is between 1 in 7 and 1 in 29, depending on the source. Deliveries assisted by qualified personnel and that take place in a health centre only represent 50% of the total. - PREVALENCE OF CONTRACEPTION: 4.5%. - HIV/AIDS: prevalence of 2% according to national health sources. - UNSAFE ABORTION: 36 of every 1000 women between the ages of 15 and 44. - SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION: Sentimental relations between women and between men are illegal. |
- CEDAW. - The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and its respective protocols. - SADC Gender Protocol
|
- The Angolan Constitution recognises gender equality and the same rights and responsibilities for all people, regardless of their race, ethnic group, sex, religion or ideology. - Law against domestic violence.
|
- National Strategic Plan to fight STDs and HIV/AIDS (2007-2010). - Document of policies and standards on reproductive health services. - Strategy for the promotion of gender equality |
- The Organisation for Angolan Women is one of the most important in the country. Its main functions are: - The drawing up of gender policies. - Support for victims of violence. - Running a shelter house. - Support for advice centres and credits. - Talks on violence. |
|
Map of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa and Spain - Chapter 3 - Angola