In a compelling call to action, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and two Angolan media rights organizations have urged the Angolan government to enhance its commitment to press freedom. This plea was encapsulated in a submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council ahead of Angola’s scheduled Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in January 2025, where Angola’s human rights practices will be scrutinized.
The joint submission, dated July 16, 2024, delineated a troubling landscape for journalists in Angola, marked by four years of consistent judicial harassment. This climate is exacerbated by criminal defamation laws, broadcast restrictions, and new legislation designed to further suppress media freedom. The submission presents a dire portrait of the struggles faced by press members, calling for immediate reforms and the release of detained journalists, particularly Carlos Raimundo Alberto.
The CPJ, alongside the Angolan Journalists’ Syndicate and the Angolan chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, recommended essential changes. These include the release of jailed journalists, the cessation of criminal prosecutions for journalistic activities, and the abolition of laws that curb press freedoms. The hope is to foster a safer environment where journalists can operate without fear of persecution.
The CPJ and media rights groups have submitted a joint appeal to the UN, urging Angola to enhance its commitment to press freedom ahead of its January 2025 UPR. The submission highlights four years of judicial harassment faced by journalists, calling for urgent reforms, including the release of detained journalists and the abolition of restrictive laws.
The appeal by CPJ and its partners marks a critical moment in advocating for media rights in Angola, emphasizing the need for reform and protection for journalists. With the January 2025 UPR on the horizon, there is a crucial opportunity for the international community to influence positive change. Ultimately, the goal is clear: to foster an environment of true journalistic freedom in Angola, safeguarding the voices that challenge and inspire change.
The backdrop of this appeal lies in ongoing challenges facing press freedom in Angola, where government actions have increasingly restricted the rights of journalists. The UPR process is a mechanism used by the United Nations to assess the human rights situation in member states, providing an avenue for organizations to hold governments accountable for their commitments. This submission highlights the urgent need for reform in Angola, spotlighting the deteriorating state of press freedoms and journalist security.
Original Source: cpj.org
