Luanda — The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Angola, Yvan Yerovi, said Wednesday in Luanda that the National Assembly should exercise its legislative and supervisory power to minimise the various needs related to children.

Speaking to the press, following a meeting with the Commission of Family, Children and Social Action of the National Assembly, the UNICEF representative said Angola faces many challenges related to children and that matters linked to children should be top priority for the country.

The UNICEF official added that one of the points discussed with MPs was the recently approved State General Budget (OGE), that is expected to put into practice some existing projects for children.

"The State Budget is a crucial tool to materialise all the projects and to make possible the access to basic services for children", Yerovi said.

Yerovi added that UNICEF intends to work with the National Assembly Commission to put an end to exploitation and abuse of children, including practices and customs that are harmful and against their rights and welfare.

The official explained that the meeting with MPs also served to share information from UNICEF about the situation of children in the country, regarding data related to malnutrition, vaccination schedule, violence and poverty.

The president of the 8th Commission, Clarice Mukinda, on her turn, said the meeting served to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two institutions and to address aspects related to children.

Mukinda underscored that since poverty in Angola has the face of children and poses a major concern, it will be the top priority for the new legislature.

"With the proposals that we present to the fund and the programmes presented by them, we believe that we will certainly overcome some aspects", the MP said.