Lisbon hosts the 7th meeting of the CPLP Human Rights Network

The Network of Ombudsmen, National Human Rights Commissions and other Human Rights Institutions of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries – CPLP Human Rights Network – held its seventh meeting in Lisbon on 26 September 2024.

Chaired by the Ombudsperson of Portugal, Maria Lúcia Amaral, the meeting brought together the Ombudsmen of Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique and East Timor, the Federal Prosecutor for Citizen’s Rights of Brazil, the Presidents of the National Human Rights Commissions of Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, as well as the Interministerial Human Rights Commission of São Tomé and Príncipe. Brazil’s Office of the Federal Public Defender also took part as a special guest.

During the meeting, the members discussed various topics relevant to their institutions and approved the Activity Plan for 2024-2025. This plan is based on two main axes: the creation and institutional strengthening of the Network’s Members, with emphasis on the creation of the Ombudsman in Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe; and the deepening of cooperation between Members, promoting capacity-building programmes and establishing strategic partnerships with other relevant actors.

As part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Ombudsman’s Office in Portugal, the participants in the meeting visited the Assembly of the Republic, having their presence in the plenary been mentioned by the its President.

The final declaration of the meeting can be consulted in full here [in Portuguese only].