[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1158, 445], "category": "Text", "text": "Adopting a service-delivery, people-centred approach, the Action supports universal access to independent justice and the prevention and fight against corruption, money laundering and asset recovery by supporting the reform of the judiciary system and the review of existing diplomas and approval of new ones to regulate administrative and judicial procedural rules, providing training that addresses both the country's vision of providing specialised services and the intention to expand justice services to achieve national coverage. In addition, the Action supports the Government's goal of adopting cutting-edge technology resources to gradually eliminate physical dispatch of processes and replacing it with technological tools that ensure the dematerialisation of acts and the automation of judicial procedures and timelines, facilitate the management and administration of courts and the activity of magistrates and other justice operators. By supporting effective regulation enforcement, the fight against corruption, and open government, the Action also proposes to contribute to improving the investment climate and business environment for private sector development, key priorities of the current Government."}, {"bbox": [96, 456, 1158, 618], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action builds on previous projects that had an impact in combating corruption, money laundering and organised crime, including asset recovery and management. The Action will contribute to the principles of the Global Gateway strategy and values related to good governance and transparency. In addition, the Action will contribute to the realisation of the EU Gender Action Plan 2021-2025 III³, in particular to its thematic areas of “Promoting equal participation and leadership” and “Promoting economic and social rights and empowering girls and women”. The Action is in line with the EU policy to tackle inequalities in developing countries⁴."}, {"bbox": [96, 628, 1158, 683], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action will contribute to the Agenda 2030 Goals, in particular Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16), but also Gender equality (SDG 5) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)."}, {"bbox": [85, 723, 322, 755], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 789, 234, 816], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [96, 834, 1150, 1048], "category": "Text", "text": "Starting in 2008, the Government of Angola embarked in a reform of the judicial system to increase citizens' access to justice, improve the capacities of institutions and technical staff, modernise services and update legislation (a significant part of which harked to the colonial era). The reform has four pillars: legislative, organisation and functioning of the justice system, human resources (capacity building and better management), and digitalisation. As a result, codes introducing new areas, such as those related to money laundering, were approved and outdated legislation, such as the penal code from two centuries ago and Civil Code and the Code of Civil Procedure, were reviewed. In addition, new courts were created, judges were hired, and magistrates were trained to apply the new and revised legislation."}, {"bbox": [96, 1058, 1150, 1379], "category": "Text", "text": "In 2017, the reform was expanded to include efforts to prevent and combat corruption, money laundering and recovery of assets, a new area of intervention in Angola. EU-funded projects⁵ have provided technical training and contributed significantly to the implementation of a preventive system for money laundering and terrorist financing including improvements in the human and institutional capacities, legislative harmonisation in the areas of corruption, money laundering, witness protection, loss of property and recovery of assets. Two new services were created under the supervision of the Attorney General's Office, namely the National Service for Combating Corruption (Direcção Nacional do Plano de Combate a Corrupção - DNPCC) and the National Service for the Recovery of Assets (Serviço Nacional de Recuperação de Activos - SENRA). The SENRA seized real estate and equity interests of about USD 2 billion and USD 5 billion were seized in Angola and executed overseas. Civil society has been putting pressure on the Government to set up a fund with transparent rules for the use of recovered assets and, although reticent at first, the Government has publicly stated the need to create such a fund. The Government is also designing a strategy to fight and prevent corruption."}, {"bbox": [85, 1426, 1144, 1538], "category": "Footnote", "text": "³ The Gender Action Plan III is a Joint communication by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy which was welcomed through EU Presidency Conclusions of 16 December 2020. Drafting was led by European Commission in close consultation with EU Member States, EEAS, civil society organisations, partner governments, and international organisations (UN entities, International Finance Institutions among others). The different parties contributed to the drafting of the document through meetings and through responses to a survey conducted during the process."}, {"bbox": [85, 1538, 1144, 1580], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁴ Commission Staff Working Document on Implementation of the new European Consensus on Development – Addressing inequality in partner countries SWD(2019) 280 final of 14.6.2019."}, {"bbox": [85, 1580, 1144, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ The project Support the Consolidation of the Rule of Law (Projeto de Apoio à Consolidação do Estado de Direito - PACED) in the Portuguese-speaking African countries and East Timor (Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa - PALOP) and the Project for strengthening the National Asset Forfeiture System in Angola (PRO-React) both financed under the European Development Fund (EDF)."}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 24"}]