SECTOR 1

documentary being downloaded and viewed by a large number of Mauritians. It
proved to be incredibly popular.
Overall, Government does not see Internet as a threat despite its importance as a
new technological medium. As such, it is rare that the State blocks out or filters
internet, and the course of action in blocking Facebook was only exercised when
the Prime Minister was the focal point of negative attention. These same resources
are, however, not used to block out other negative elements on the internet, such
as child related pornography.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score: 			

3.7 (2008 = n/a)

1.11 Civil society in general and media lobby groups
actively advance the cause of media freedom.
There is only one media organisation in Mauritius which is made up of editors so
there is very little engagement with civil society around media issues by a media
lobby group. Civil society is rather ambivalent towards media freedom issues, and
when they do react, it is on an adhoc basis and not in any sustained manner. Any
form of protest against media freedom violations is organised on an ad hoc basis
by different individuals who feel passionately about a particular incident. There is
no specific organisation dealing with media freedom violations on a regular basis.
At the time of this AMB report, Amnesty International was in the process of
establishing a lobbying organisation called Freedom Group, which will actively
work on media freedom and freedom of expression issues.

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MAURITIUS 2010

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