SECTOR 1 1.4 Government makes every effort to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and the media. Provisions of regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and of the media have been integrated in the Constitution of Benin. Benin has ratified most conventions and treaties on freedom of expression and of the media. International legal instruments are given the same treatment as national instruments when it comes to implementation. Civil movements actively control their implementation and observance. Tendencies to violate these provisions are very rare due to a fear of public opinion. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator. 3 Country meets many aspects of indicator but progress may be too recent to judge. 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has been doing so over time. Average score: 3.2 (2007=n/a) 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. The effectiveness of this measure speaks for itself according to panel members. In Benin, print publications evolve in a completely free environment except for a legal deposit requirement. The Constitution of Benin guarantees total freedom of publication to all. Law 60-12 on freedom of the media regulates the enjoyment of this freedom but does not subject any publication to prior authorization. In practice, newspapers are declared at the Ministry in charge of public security (generally prior to the first publication) and are required to obtain a legal deposit. 76 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2009