SECTOR 1 instruments on these freedoms. A good example is the Nairobi Protocol to the Florence Convention that calls for tax exonerations on raw materials for the printing of newspapers. Cameroon taxation authorities continue to levy Value Added Tax on newsprint. As a result, the price of a ream of 500 sheets of paper is CFA10,000 (approximately $20), as opposed to CFA5,500 (approximately US $11) if implementation of the protocol was taking place. From a purely legal perspective some panellists argue that the government deserves credit for adhering to international conventions, charters and other instruments. Constitutionally, international legal texts become part of the national law once they have been ratified by the government, and are thus enforceable. Failure in this regard thus lies in the effective “appropriation” of regional and international legal instruments. “Cameroon has signed and ratified many international texts but does not implement them on the ground”, a panellist asserted. 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: 3.910 (2008=n/a; 2011=1.5) 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. Cameroon requires potential publishers to simply declare their intention to publish at the relevant administrative office before the first copy of the newspaper or magazine goes to the newspaper stands (Law on Freedom of Social Communication, 1990, Article 7). When understood in this way, “print publications are therefore not required to obtain permission to publish from a state authority.” The system of declaration of intent is a departure from the old practice, whereby newspaper publishers had to obtain a license. This reinforces the perception that “permission” is not required. However, the process of “declaration” as enshrined in the law often raises questions about the total absence of state authorisation. The administrative official is required to issue an acknowledgement of receipt within 15 days of 10 Panellists felt by ratifying international instruments, the government had made some but not all effort AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2014 85