UNODC and EU support the Strengthening of the National Asset Forfeiture System in Angola

8 December 2021
 
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Attorney General’s office in Angola launched PRO.REACT (Support the Strengthening of a National Asset Forfeiture System in Angola), a new project funded by European Union.
 
<div style="text-align: justify;"><em><em>Angolan Minister of Justice and Human Rights Francisco Manuel Monteiro de Queiroz </em></em><em>and <em>UNODC ROSAF Advisor, </em>Manuela Carneiro</em></div>
Angolan Minister of Justice and Human Rights Francisco Manuel Monteiro de Queiroz and UNODC ROSAF Advisor, Manuela Carneiro
To celebrate its inauguration, a high-level event was organized with the presence of the Minister of Justice and Human Rights Francisco Manuel Monteiro de Quiroz, attending on behalf of the President of the Republic of Angola, the EU Ambassador to Angola Jeanette Seppen, the Minister of Economics and Planning, the Secretary of State for the Interior, the Attorney General, the General Inspector of the State Administration, as well as representatives of 14 Angolan Institutions relevant to the fight against money laundering.
 
The project implementation starts at an opportune time, as illicit financial flows are a growing threat in Africa. In February 2021, UNODC launched the Strategic Vision for Africa 2030 and recognises illicit financial flows as an impediment for Africa, meaning solutions must be found and executed in order to achieve goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the African Union Agenda 2063.
 
Marco Teixeira, UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSAF) Officer in Charge, underlined that the project will help enhance Justice professionals' capacity to combat money laundering in Angola, including investigators, prosecutors, and other criminal justice actors. This project also follows Angola's successful work to curb illicit financial flows, including by most recently confiscating assets within the country and abroad for the benefit of the Angolan people.
 
<em>EU Ambassador Jeanette Seppen</em>
EU Ambassador Jeanette Seppen
Jeannette Seppen, EU Ambassador to Angola, noted that “PRO.REACT is the newest result of our lasting cooperation [with Angola], which supports the country's efforts to build a fairer, more human and supportive state. A tool that is intended to be useful and effective in responding to the challenge of consolidating the rule of law, and particularly to help ensure that the country's resources are channelled to the areas where populations need it most.”
 
PRO.REACT is projected to be implemented for the next 3 years through the Global Programme Against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime, and Financing of Terrorism (GPML). Its aim is to develop an effective system to counter illicit financial flows and contribute to higher economic growth and poverty reduction in Angola. It will reinforce anti-money laundering and asset forfeiture capacities of the country, which in turn can be used to combat economic-related crime, such as corruption.
 

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