In September, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child called on the authorities to decriminalize abortion and ensure access for adolescent girls to safe abortion and postabortion care services within Andorra. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Defamation laws including the criminalization of legitimate criticism of the authorities remained in force, breaching international human rights law. DISCRIMINATION Legislation banning the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols in educational institutions remained in place, discriminating particularly against Muslim women and girls who wished to wear headscarves. ANGOLA Republic of Angola The authorities used excessive or unnecessary force to impede or prevent the right to peaceful assembly. In most cases, where such force was used, protesters were arbitrarily arrested or detained. At least five protesters and one bystander were unlawfully killed, including at least two children. The right to freedom of association was threatened. Teachers faced underpayment as well as non-payment of their salaries. Hundreds of people were forcibly evicted from their homes. The severe and prolonged drought in the south had a devastating impact on the rights to food and health, particularly for children. BACKGROUND There was limited progress in the human rights situation following a year of turmoil around the 2022 general elections. The National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of the Human Rights of Persons with Albinism, and the National Action Plan for Promotion of the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities were adopted. However, the UN Committee on the Rights of 78 Persons with Disabilities noted that Angola’s approach to disability was yet to meet international standards. On 30 May, the government increased fuel prices from AOA 160 (USD 0.26) to AOA 300 (USD 0.49) per litre. The rising costs, due in part to Russia’s war in Ukraine, resulted in cost-of-living increases, which were compounded by high unemployment rates that disproportionately affected youth, and triggered further social unrest throughout the year. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION The Status of Non-Governmental Organizations bill (NGO bill) was approved by parliament on 25 May. NGOs criticized it on grounds that, if enacted, it would limit the right to association and give the executive excessive powers to interfere in their activities, including the power to audit, dissolve or limit the operations of associations. At the end of the year, the bill was awaiting debate before a special parliamentary committee and final approval by the president. FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY The authorities repressed peaceful demonstrations using excessive or unnecessary force leading in some cases to unlawful killings, intimidation, beatings and arbitrary arrests or detention. Activists were arrested for joining protests, and others simply for being in the vicinity of protest action. On 10 February, the Angolan National Police (PNA) prevented a vigil from going ahead in the capital Luanda and in Benguela on grounds of public security. Three NGOs – Union (Omunga), the Youth Movement for Local Authorities (Movimento Jovens pelas Autarquias) and Friends of Angola (Amigos de Angola) – had called for the vigil to demand the decentralization of government powers to local authorities. On 18 February, the PNA prevented members of the judiciary from continuing a peaceful march in Luanda, saying that they were following orders from their “superiors”. The State of the World’s Human Rights