H.E. Elsa Maria Barber Dias dos Santos

H.E. Elsa Maria Barber Dias dos Santos was born in Luanda/Angola, has a law degree from the Agostinho Neto University and a post-graduate degree in law and business management.

She is a member of the Angolan Writers Union, member of the Angolan Bar Association, member of the Angolan Association of Women in Legal Careers and President of the General Assembly of the International Federation of Women in Legal Careers elected last May in the last Congress;

At a professional level, she was Director of the National Institute for Consumer Protection, General Inspector of the Ministry of Commerce, Director of the Financial Literacy Office of the Capital Market Commission, Deputy Director of the Currency Museum of the National Bank of Angola, Director for Political and Electoral Affairs of the MPLA, the largest political force in Angola, and is currently Secretary of State for Family and Women’s Promotion, therefore a member of the Angolan
Executive.

She participated in the Twelfth Session of the United Nations OpenEnded Working Group on Aging in 2022, participated in the General Conference of UNESCO in 2021 and in several world forums that address women’s issues, where we highlight the following themes.
Women, Peace and Security, Gender Equality and Equity, Gender-Based Violence, Family Competence, Child Protection, Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, and Social Inclusion.

She has published the following works:

• Sustainable Business in Angola, in Portuguese and Italian, prepared with the support of UNDP;
• Basic rules of coexistence in the school environment;
• Co-author of the book Basic Rules of Hygiene
• Julito and his mother’s love;
• Eco-friendly Joanito, in Portuguese, English, and Arabic;
• Sopas da Banda, a challenge to help rural women prepare dishes with local products, FAO support;
• Participated in International Literary Fairs, Lisbon/Portugal and Milan/Italy.
• Women’s Institute of Management