AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ANGOLA _______________________________________________________ Sector 1: Freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, are effectively protected and promoted. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 1.1. Freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, is guaranteed in the constitution and protected by other pieces of legislation. ANALYSIS: The Constitutional Law guarantees freedom of opinion and of the press in articles 35 and 32 as basic civil rights, while at the same time it is silent or incomplete on many of these aspects. A Press Law regulates press freedom as being "characterised by freedom of expression and of thought through the written press, radio and television". Currently, the National Assembly is considering a draft Press Law that is expected to be approved soon1. During a consultation phase, independent institutions for the protection of journalists, such as the Trade Union of Angolan Journalists (SJA), the Union of Angolan Journalists (UJA) and other civil society groups participated in the debate. The draft law promises to contain a number of improvements in regard to better protection of the press and greater openness. But it seems clear that certain aspects of media freedom protection in the Constitutional Law and the Press Law require a number of improvements to ensure the completeness of such protection. SCORES: Individual scores: 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4 Average score: 3.5 1 This Draft Press Law was approved by the National Assembly on February 3, 2006. 1