Translated from Portuguese. The Portuguese version prevails. Ler em português
Strengthening citizens' levels of constitutional literacy was the main objective of the Constitutional Court's visit to the Provinces of Huíla and Benguela, from 23 to 27 February.
During the mission, the Justices held an Ordinary Session of the Plenary in Huíla, at which five cases were examined. Also in Huíla, the Ondjango da Constituição (community forum on the Constitution) was held in the Municipalities of Gambos and Lubango, an initiative that brings the Court's leaders face to face with citizens to examine and debate the constitutional principles and mechanisms for the protection of the fundamental rights, freedoms and guarantees enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. The initiative was likewise held in the municipality of Benguela.
The meetings, led by the President of the Constitutional Court, Laurinda Prazeres, brought together mainly secondary school and university students and other segments of society, who had the opportunity to question the Justices, guardians of the Constitution, directly. At various points, participants expressed concerns and criticism about situations they consider to be violations of the Fundamental Law.
The most debated topics included alleged violations of children's rights, cases of violation of the home and searches carried out by officers of authority bodies without a court warrant. Concerns were also raised regarding customary law, the powers of the organs of sovereignty, the rights of persons with disabilities, freedom of religion, the right of assembly and demonstration, and the proliferation of illegal churches.
In the participants' view, the Constitution, or the ordinary laws that give effect to it, should provide for more effective mechanisms to sanction non-compliance with it.
Conscious of the responsibility incumbent upon them and of the need to contribute to a better understanding of the Magna Carta, the 11 Justices of the Constitutional Court, as well as the representative of the Public Prosecution Service of Angola, provided clarifications based on their professional experience and on the applicable legal and constitutional framework.
In addition to the President of the Constitutional Court, the delegation included the Vice-President, Justice Victória Izata. Also part of the mission were Justices Carlos Teixeira, Carlos Burity da Silva, Maria de Fátima da Silva, Gilberto Magalhães, Vitorino Hossi, João Carlos Paulino, Lucas Quilundo, Amélia Varela and Margareth Nangacovie, as well as the representative of the Public Prosecution Service, Luís de Assunção Mouta Liz.
With the events held in Huíla and Benguela, the Constitutional Court brought to a close the celebrations of Constitution Day, which began on 2 February.