Cape Verde to Establish National Human Rights Observatory

New Observatory to Bolster Human Rights in Cape Verde

The National Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship (CNDHC) of Cape Verde has announced the establishment of a National Human Rights Observatory. The announcement was made on February 29, 2024, by Eurídice Mascarenhas, the President of the CNDHC, during the institution's 60th plenary meeting. This initiative is considered a 'priority of priorities' for Mascarenhas's mandate, aiming to significantly enhance the promotion and protection of human rights across the archipelago.

Leadership and Mandate

Eurídice Mascarenhas assumed the presidency of the CNDHC on March 8, 2023, succeeding Zaida Freitas. Under her leadership, the new observatory is tasked with a crucial role in understanding and addressing human rights issues within the country. Its primary objective is to quantify and identify the most pressing human rights demands at the national level.

A key focus of the observatory will be the monitoring and identification of human trafficking situations. It is designed to trigger appropriate actions from authorities and lead processes in cases involving disappearances or vulnerabilities, such as those related to prostitution or other forms of trafficking, with a strong emphasis on prevention.

International Collaboration and Challenges

The establishment of the observatory comes partly in response to recommendations from the United States, which has highlighted the need for Cape Verde to intensify its efforts in combating human trafficking. Cape Verde is receiving support for this endeavor from various international partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations, and the United States Embassy.

Despite the ambitious goals, the CNDHC acknowledges existing challenges, particularly limitations in financial resources, which have historically impacted the institution's work. The creation of the observatory coincides with the CNDHC's 20th anniversary in 2024, a milestone that provides an opportunity for evaluating and reassessing the institution's effectiveness. The CNDHC also continues its broader work in promoting human rights, disseminating international conventions, and providing training, having been designated as the National Prevention Mechanism against torture in 2018.