Luanda, ANGOLA, May 19 - The new criminal code protects, through the Criminal Law and the Constitution, some personal legal assets, like the good name, reputation and privacy, that may be offended in the exercise of freedom of press. ,

 

This was stated Friday by University professor Mota Liz at the end of a round table on Criminalisation of journalist activity in Angola , ahead of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Course for journalists.

 

According to Mota Liz, good name, reputation, private life, among others, are protected by Law and their violation leads to the crimes of defamation, injuries, among others.

 

"The potential and exponentiation of damage caused through the press can, obviously , aggravates the criminal and civil liability," he explained.

 

The professor said that there is neither specific persecution against journalists nor punishment in exercise of freedom of the press, but the abuse in exercise of the activity.

 

When the exercise of activity transcend the limits of freedom, when the journalist's ethical order is exceeded and freedom of the press is exercised unlawfully , he stressed.

 

Mota Liz said that in general, the code protects, encourages freedom of the press and journalists.

 

The lecturer argued that the relationship between journalists, investigative bodies and the judiciary is crucial to create critical awareness and examine the exercise of managers.

 

To him, with the report of bad management on the facts that have criminal relevance, the journalists complement the activity of the investigation bodies, the public prosecutor's office, attorney and the courts in the fight against impunity.

 

Mota Liz said that freedom of the press is fundamental for development of any nation as well as consolidation of democracy and the rule of law.

 

"Of course, the right to freedom of the press, the right to information and freedom of expression are not absolute and must be exercised within a social context", he added.

 

The conditions have been created for a formative process, an educational process that will allow to mitigate the areas of conflict between the exercise of freedom of the press and the other rights that are protected by law, such as the honour, privacy and other individual rights, like the state security, the secret of justice, "he said.

 

The round table was attended by journalist Reginaldo Silva and moderated by university professor Benja Satula.

 

The Course on Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure for journalists is a joint initiative of the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Angola and the Angolan Journalists Union (SJA).

 

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