Angola: Youth leader amplifying marginalized voices through advocacy

This story highlights the journey of Angolan youth leader Liudmila da Conceição, whose activism bridges grassroots engagement and international advocacy to amplify the voices of young women and marginalised communities across Angola and beyond.

Liudmila da Conceição is an Angolan youth leader, law student and social activist whose work advances women’s rights, gender equality and youth participation. As an active member of Plataforma Mulheres em Acção (PMA), she supports community dialogues, youth-led actions and initiatives that promote access to justice, education and participation in decision-making spaces. 

Since 2019, Liudmila has engaged in activism at national and international levels. Her unique strength lies in bridging grassroots realities with global advocacy, ensuring that the lived experiences of Angolan women and youth shape policy conversations. She has represented Angola in international youth forums, including the International Forum We the Youth, where she was honoured as Youth Voice 2025 for Africa and the Middle East. 

Before her activism, many young women in her community had limited awareness of their rights and little access to meaningful advocacy spaces. Liudmila’s work aims to change this by opening pathways for visibility, informed engagement and empowerment. 

The change came through community-based activism, youth training and participation in national and international platforms. Locally, she contributed to awareness-raising dialogues on gender-based violence, legal rights and civic participation. Nationally, she collaborated with PMA activists and community leaders to strengthen advocacy networks and encourage safe reporting. Internationally, her participation in regional forums and the UPR process connected local challenges to global policy discussions. 

Evidence of change includes youth empowerment outcomes, documentation of workshops, recognition as Youth Voice 2025, and feedback from teenage pregnancy workshops. Young people now have increased access to advocacy platforms and improved awareness of their rights. 

Sustainability will be achieved through ongoing community workshops, youth leadership training, collaboration with organisations such as Friends of Angola and continued engagement in regional and international advocacy spaces. Her role in global youth forums ensures that local voices continue to influence policy processes while inspiring youth leadership across Africa. 

Quotes
Maria N. (Workshop Participant), Before attending the workshop, I did not fully understand my body or my rights. Now I feel more confident to make informed choices.

Ana T. (Teen Workshop Participant), Thanks to the workshop, I now understand more about my rights and my body.