Cape Verde resolves more than half of pending paternity cases in three months

The Cape Verdean judiciary resolved more than half of pending informal paternity trials in the Praia region in three months, according to data released this Wednesday, as part of a UNICEF-funded project.

The data was made public in the city of Praia by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) during the public presentation ceremony of the results of the 2nd and 3rd phases of the partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the framework of the production volume in the jurisdiction of the family and juvenile and sexual crimes against children .

In the first phase of the project, also funded by UNICEF and launched in July 2021, the Cape Verdean judiciary settled almost 1,300 pending paternity cases in the Praia region in four months (March to June).

The Cape Verdean authorities requested a request for an extension of the project, which was accepted by UNICEF as it was extended to sexual crimes against children, also in Praia, and took place between October and December 2021.

During the same period, the goal of the Cape Verdean authorities was to process 500 cases and close 300, but these numbers have more than doubled with 1,008 cases processed (101.6%) and 610 cases closed (103.3%).

At the end of the second phase, 995 informal maternity and paternity verification processes were expected in Comarca da Praia, most of which, according to the same data, were awaiting responses from DNA tests.

Due to “some delays caused by various restrictions”, the project has moved to the third phase, which now covers all jurisdictions of families and minors, which began in January 2022 and is expected to end on the 31st of this month.

At this stage, it was supposed to process 1,500 cases and close 1,000, but as of Tuesday, these goals were exceeded, with 2,300 cases processed and 1,043 closed, and in the case of informal paternity testing, 446 pending cases.

During the ceremony, the Attorney General of the Republic (GP), José Landim, emphasized the “special attention” that the criminal procedure institution pays to the protection of children from the commission of various crimes.

“The public ministry has tirelessly pursued sexual crimes against children. And it will continue like this!” he assured.

Justice Minister Joana Rosa also stressed the importance of these UNICEF-funded projects. “It is inconceivable that in a country with a population of about half a million people there would be a significant number of paternity investigation processes,” he countered.

Recognizing that paternity evasion is a recurring problem recognized by society and political power in Cape Verde, the minister noted that it has contributed to increasing procedural backlogs and delays, two of the country’s biggest justice problems.

“It is alarming that we are aware of the trend towards an increase in litigation in informal paternity investigations, but we are pleased to note the desire of the public prosecutor to give free rein to these processes,” said Joana Rosa, for whom Cape Verde is taking “significant steps” to consolidation of its entire child protection policy.

The Minister called for increased attention to legal information and public awareness, as well as the creation of mechanisms to reduce inequalities and empower families, as well as hold accountable those who shirk their duties.