SECTOR 1 A number of panelists, notably the media professionals, held the view that the application of international rules in the field of media leaves much to be desired. They referred specifically to the Florida Convention on tax exemptions which do not apply in the case of media bodies and companies. As one panelist summed it up: the government strives to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and freedom of the media in theory, but not in practice. 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: 3.3 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. Print media in Togo do not require permission from state authorities before publishing. The constitution stipulates that the media must not be subject to any pre-publication authorisation, official caution, censorship or other inhibiting regulatory requirements (Art. 26, section 3). Publications merely need to register or declare their intention to publish. The formalities of this declaration are laid down in the law governing the Press Code in its articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. The declaration is made to the HAAC which then issues a formal confirmation. No print media owner has ever officially and publicly been denied such confirmation by the body. One panelist mentioned a problem in the way the HAAC interprets the provisions of the Code regarding the declaration. Publications that went into print without first having received formal confirmation from the authority have been called to order. One such case was that of the bi-monthly L’Equipe Sportive. If media bodies are allowed to begin their activities merely on the basis of their declaration, this panelist argues, a newspaper should be allowed to publish from the date of submission of the declaration, without having to wait for formal confirmation. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TOGO 2010 87