SECTOR 1 In addition, the committee proposed the removal of obstacles for the establishment of private broadcasting services. A draft proposal related to private broadcasting services, which was submitted to the National Assembly, states in its first article that: “Broadcast communication is free in the Republic of Mali. This liberty is exercised in the respect of the conditions fixed by the present decree and subsequent regulations.” In December 2009, a meeting was held in Bamako to reflect on the state of information and communication in Mali. This meeting aimed essentially to “analys(e) the legislative and regulating framework of the media as well as the communication landscape to adapt it better to realities”. The recommendations of this meeting were implemented by the authorities that introduced the process of reviewing all legislative and regulating documents relating to the media. This process is currently underway and set to be completed during 2011. 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: 4.9 (2008 = 4.4; 2006 = 4.0) 1.2 The right to freedom of expression is practised and citizens, including journalists, are asserting their rights without fear. While “no formal document hangs over journalists’ heads like Damocles’ sword”, there are incidents of journalists and human rights activists falling victim to harassment, intimidation and threats from State representatives and religious groups. There are also social cultural issues that can hinder free expression. For example, some journalists had enormous trouble in trying to obtain accreditation for the country’s 50th independence anniversary ceremony; when the Chinese president visited Mali, public demonstrations were forbidden; and religious AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALI 2010 81