Freedom of expression and the media in Angola

 

Recently, the Angolan Parliament approved a new legislative package on media that covers Press Law, the Journalist Statute, Radio Broadcasting Law, Television Law, and Law of the Regulatory Communications Authority (Entidade Reguladora da Comunicação – ERCA). Friends of Angola (FoA) after examining these laws, has concluded that now, all independent journalistic activity has been deemed criminal months before the national elections in Angola.

The Angolan Parliament which approved these laws, was found to have violated the rules of International Law of Human Rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art. 19), the Banjul Charter (Art. 9), the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an African Independent Press, Statement Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, the International Covenant on Civil, and Political rights (art. 19) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights (art. 14). Internally, these rules are unconstitutional because they violate Articles 12, 13, and 40 of the Constitution of the Republic of Angola and even extend to basic freedom of expressionThis legislative package is a risk not only to the progress of Angola, but also other southern African states as other nations can follow suit.

FoA recommends that Angolan civil society once again put to the test, the Constitutional Court, in order to rule on this package. Even if the decision is not favorable to the freedoms of citizens, it will be in the records of the annals of history that Angolans opposed this move. Also the search for a solution in court, does not exclude other peaceful initiatives to move for the abolishment of this law.

FoA thus recommends that the President not promulgate this legislative package media.
                                                                                                                               

Sincerely,