The information was released on Tuesday by activist Jaime Mussinda, a member of the Mudei Civic Movement and involved in coordinating the protest march, noting that the initiative by various members of civil society was officially ratified by six women.
“The purpose of this march is to demand that the authorities put an end to the trivialisation of the lives and dignity of girls and women. For some time now, women have been the target of systematic attacks and non-compliance with specific treaties and conventions that defend women,” said Jaime Mussinda.
Speaking to Lusa, the activist lamented the “repeated” acts of aggression against women and girls: “They are sexually abused in full view of everyone and it seems that the authorities are doing nothing to resolve this situation and hold the offenders civilly and criminally responsible,” he said.
“It is this situation that concerns us, because women are our mothers, daughters and wives and deserve attention, respect and protection, which has not been the case,” he insisted, noting that the march, scheduled for Saturday, should take place in Luanda and other Angolan provinces.
The case of a 15-year-old girl who was assaulted and sexually abused over the weekend in the district of Viana, Luanda, by two men who shared the video of the assaults on social media is causing outrage and commotion among Angolans, with activists, members of civil society, political parties, ministers and public figures condemning the act and demanding that the criminals be held accountable.
Mussinda accused members of the police forces of being involved in the crime, stating that they used a firearm to carry out the abuse and that the authorities are “covering up” and treating the case “lightly”. The Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) announced on Monday the detention of two suspects, but denied that they belonged to the police forces.
On Tuesday night, UNITA (Angolan opposition) MP Jeremias Mahula was questioned and taken to the Viana municipal headquarters of the National Police when he went to the area to obtain more information about the victim, the fourth deputy chair of the party’s parliamentary group, Olívio Kilumbu, told Lusa.
According to Kilumbu, the MP was giving an interview to a group of journalists who were near the scene when he was interrupted by the police and taken away, despite having identified himself. He was released on the same day after the parliamentary group intervened.
“We pointed out to the commander that he was making a mistake, that this was not right, [and] he backed down,” said the UNITA official.
“We march for Belma. We march for all silenced girls and women. We march to demand prison for abusers, without exceptions, without protection, without excuses,” are some of the slogans quoted in a statement from the organisation consulted by Lusa.
Luanda, Benguela and Uíje are some of the provinces that will march “together, united for justice, dignity and protection of our children,” the announcement also states.
