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Special Rapporteur recommends that the law is reformed and was encouraged by
the openness of the Government to review the provisions of the law.
48.
Furthermore, law no. 2/04 fails to tackle the problem of religious
organizations that are involved in exploitative or engage in harmful practices.
Already registered religious organizations in Angola are amongst those accused of
exploiting or harming individuals. The Special Rapporteur therefore recommends
that exploitative or harmful practices are instead be tackled by the criminal law, in
parallel to human rights education programmes.
49.
Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government
should review the limitation clauses in articles 18 and 45 of the Angolan
Constitution with a view to bringing these provisions into line with article 18 (3) of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as required by article 2
ICCPR.
Religious tolerance
50.
The Government of Angola is obliged to promote religious tolerance and the
Special Rapporteur would urge that unsubstantiated statements by officials are not
made to the detriment of any religious community. She notes in this regard with
satisfaction the statement of President Dos Santos to the UN General Assembly on
25 September 2007 in which he said that “Ecumenism and dialogue among cultures
are avenues for action that can be used for the purposes of bringing together, in
peace and solidarity, the dominant religions and all the people of the world”.
Freedom of religion or belief in Cabinda
51.
In Cabinda, human rights violations by the security forces continue. The
Special Rapporteur received a significant number of reports of violence,
intimidation and harassment and arrests by State agents of individuals perceived to
dispute the leadership of the Catholic Church in Cabinda. These violations and the
conflict within the Catholic Church are inter-related and represent challenges to the
full enjoyment by all of the right to freedom of religion or belief. The Special
Rapporteur was also concerned about the violence and threats of violence
perpetrated against the leadership of the Angolan Catholic Church from individuals
opposed to the appointment of the Bishop of Cabinda. She would respectfully call on
the Government and other relevant parties to respect international human rights
law, particularly the right to freedom of religion or belief but also other interrelated
and interdependent rights, for example freedom of expression, association,
assembly, liberty and security of the person. She would furthermore urge that intrareligious dialogue between opposed religious factions is facilitated.
Children accused of witchcraft
52.
On the issue of children accused of witchcraft, the Special Rapporteur was
encouraged by the leadership assumed by the National Children’s Institute, together
with UNICEF, to address this problem but she also notes that the response to the