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The Committee notes the communication of the National Union of Angolan Workers (UNTA), received on 17 November 2008 and sent to the Government on 18 December 2008. In its communication, the UNTA indicates the existence of small tribal and semi-tribal nomadic groups in the southern provinces of the country.

Scope of application. The Committee recalls that according to the 2003 report of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights expert working group on indigenous populations/communities, the San of Southern Africa constitute a group of hunter-gatherers or former hunter-gatherers who suffer from marginalization and specific human rights violations. In Angola, the San make up 0.01 per cent of the national population. The Committee recalls that over a number of years it has been asking the Government to collect and submit information on the groups covered by the Convention and regrets that the Government’s report does not contain such information. The Committee encourages the Government to gather and submit information on the groups covered by the Convention encompassing their size, cultural characteristics and socio-economic situation, including through the realization of specific studies targeting them. The Committee again invites the Government to explore, with the assistance of the Office, ways and means of applying the Convention in the country. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on any specific legislative provisions relevant to the protection of these groups.

Equality and non-discrimination. Special measures. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it is carrying out activities aimed at changing attitudes grounded on traditional discriminatory practices which are still prevailing throughout the country and have a high incidence in some regions. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on these activities and the extent to which they contribute to ensuring that the groups covered by the Convention enjoy equality of opportunity and treatment on an equal footing with the rest of the population, including with respect to access to employment and occupation, education and health. Please also provide information on any other positive measures adopted or envisaged to promote the enjoyment of fundamental human rights of the groups covered by the Convention.

Articles 5 and 6. Development. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the Department for Rural Development has been established with a mandate to promote rural development projects and improve the living conditions of rural communities. The Committee also notes that the Institute for Agrarian Development is distributing agricultural tools in minority tribal communities, including the Khoisan, to promote their participation in productive activities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the rural development projects promoted by the Department of Rural Development and the activities carried out by the Institute for Agrarian Development in so far as they affect or are directed at the groups covered by the Convention and on their impact on improving the living conditions of these groups. Please also indicate whether the groups affected have been involved in the elaboration and implementation of the projects and programmes affecting them.