Cape Verde Human Rights Chief Urges Local Citizenship Focus
The president of Cape Verde’s National Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship (CNDHC) is calling on local governments to make human rights a cornerstone of their administration. Speaking in Praia following the organization’s 64th plenary meeting, Euridice Mascarenhas revealed her “dream” of seeing dedicated human rights chapters integrated into all municipal development plans.
The timing of the proposal is strategic, as Cape Verde is currently in the midst of local election campaigns ahead of the nationwide municipal vote scheduled for December 1.
A Vision for Local Governance
Mascarenhas argued that for human rights protections to truly strengthen, local authorities must follow the national government’s lead. She pointed to the National Sustainable Development Plan (PEDS II) as a successful model that already includes specific mandates for human rights and citizenship.
“We need to take this step at the local level,” Mascarenhas said. “If we can ensure that local development plans include dedicated chapters on the human rights and citizenship agenda, it would be a great victory for the country.”
Moving Beyond Prohibitions
Beyond the development plans, Mascarenhas suggested that revising the municipal code of conduct is essential. She believes these codes should do more than just list prohibitions; they should serve as a framework to encourage “more active participation” from residents and foster a culture that deeply values citizenship.
The CNDHC, which held the recent plenary, comprises 30 commissioners representing a broad cross-section of Cape Verdean society. Its members include government officials, political party representatives, trade unions, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and journalists.
Cape Verde has long maintained a positive international reputation regarding civil liberties. According to the U.S. State Department’s annual Report on Human Rights, the archipelago remains a country “without reports of significant violations,” a status the CNDHC aims to solidify through these local-level reforms.
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