In Mozambique, social activist Graça Machel says that the mayors who are elected in 2023 must make a strong commitment to respecting children's rights and fighting the poverty that affects almost half the population.

Mozambique begins a new electoral cycle in 2023, with local elections, followed by general elections in 2024 (presidential, legislative, provincial and possibly district). Social activist Graça Machel argues that the deputies, governors and mayors to be elected need to make a commitment to observing children's rights.

"In 2023 we'll have the municipalities, in 2024 we'll have the general elections. We should be able to take those municipalities where people are running and say that the municipality of Maputo, the municipality of Cuamba, I don't know what municipality, from which district, your reality in terms of compliance with rights is this. So all the MPs running for that municipality have to make a commitment to open up children's rights. These are opportunities that cannot be missed because what they commit to at the time of the election is what we will demand for the next five years," said Graça Machel, quoted by RFI.

According to the document from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, this year has seen food aid fall from 40% to the daily needs of each person.

The UN report states that the conflict in Cabo Delgado province is increasing food insecurity and malnutrition, with families forced to abandon homes and fields

Official figures highlighted by social activist Graça Machel in Maputo indicate that 46% of Mozambique's estimated population of 30 million live below the poverty line.