The Republic of Equatorial Guinea held the opening ceremony for the Second Ordinary Period of Sessions for the country’s upper and lower legislative Chambers, which is focused on drafting the State budget, among many other activities.
The chambers are set to examine the draft law on road transport, strengthening key infrastructure, the two proposed laws regarding the family code and governing the criminal responsibility of minors, among other legal documents.
The chambers will also organize a mixed cooperation commission to ratify the agreements and protocols by the Government with key allies and international organizations.
Equatorial Guinea is also set to examine the extension of visas for diplomatic, official, and service passports, the framework agreement for the establishment of the international solar alliance, agreements between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and agreements between Equatorial Guinea and Bolivia.
The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Government of Equatorial Guinea, Francisco Pascual Obama Asue, as well as other high-level Government officials, members of the Supreme Court of Justice, representatives from diplomatic missions, political parties, religious denominations, and international organizations.
Equatorial Guinea has made great strides over the years and significant progress on human rights, including the temporary amnesty against the death penalty, the plan of action to combat human trafficking, the implementation of the Children’s Parliament, the improvement of education for all Equatorial Guineans, and the complete abolition of child labor.
Equatorial Guinea has ratified numerous international conventions regarding human rights, and is active at the United Nations (UN) as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, where it strongly advocates for peace and security throughout the world. Equatorial Guinea at the UN has urged its fellow UN member states to prohibit the sale of arms to mercenaries and other organizations who are considered human rights violators.