UNESCO strengthens Angolan journalists’ capacity to report freely and safely

A safe and enabling environment for journalism is essential to ensuring that citizens have access to reliable information and that public debate can flourish. To support these efforts in Angola, UNESCO facilitated a two-day workshop for 26 Angolan journalists and media professionals in Luanda from 1 to 2 September 2026, an initiative funded by the Norwegian Embassy in Angola and implemented by DN Consultoria (Observatório para Direitos Humanos e Democracia), in coordination with the Angolan Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. The training forms part of UNESCO’s ongoing work to promote freedom of expression, strengthen access to information and enhance the safety of journalists in line with international standards and the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which supports national and regional capacities to prevent, protect, and prosecute attacks against media professionals, while paying particular attention to the specific risks faced by women journalists.

The training enabled Angolan journalists to strengthen their knowledge of the international and national legal frameworks supporting freedom of expression and access to information, and to exchange good practices in support of their day-to-day work. Through interactive exercises, participants analyzed real-world situations through a human rights lens, drawing on findings from UNESCO’s resources such as the latest World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development report - published in December 2025, which tracks global trends in media freedom, safety of journalists and the digital information landscape - to identify concrete approaches for addressing the challenges they encounter in their daily practice.

The training concluded with a round table on national mechanisms supporting freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, moderated by Ms Mírian Jai, journalist and lawyer, with the participation of Mr Albano Pedro, representative of the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Social Communication, Mr Paulo Mateta, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Angolan Regulatory Authority for Social Communication (ERCA), and Mr Mário Maiato, Chair of the Angolan Journalists’ Union Council on Ethics and Professional Conduct.

By strengthening the capacity of journalists and fostering dialogue among key national stakeholders, the initiative contributes to UNESCO’s broader efforts to promote a safer and more enabling environment for independent journalism in Angola and beyond.