Mariana Barbosa, Professor at the Faculty of Education and Psychology (FEP) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, is in Luanda (Angola) as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme, with the aim of carrying out diagnostic and training activities at the Angolan Ombudsman's Office.

The FEP Professor, who has been studying the areas of psychology of justice, human rights and peace, travelled to Luanda to collaborate with the Ombudsman's Office on complaint management procedures, contributing to citizens' access to justice and, consequently, to the promotion of their dignity and safeguarded human rights.

The start of the fieldwork was preceded by an audience with the Angolan Ombudsman, Florbela Rocha Araújo, on 16 January.

During the meeting, the Angolan Ombudsman discussed the activities carried out by the institution in the field of complaints handling and training. Florbela Rocha Araújo also spoke about the challenges arising from limited human resources and the increase in the number of complaints.

Mariana Barbosa is now in charge of preparing a diagnostic report on the complaints management system and creating a training module that will serve as the basis for the training she will carry out with professionals from the Ombudsman's Office.