SECTOR 1 1.4 The government makes every effort to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and freedom of the media ‘Our government is prolific regarding signing and ratifying regional and international instruments.’ eSwatini is a signatory to some regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and freedom of the media, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966). However, considering the dualist system, implementation is an issue and these instruments have not been domesticated into the kingdom’s laws. Furthermore, the Government of eSwatini rarely reports on its progress in honouring the obligations set out in the instruments it has ratified. Recently, when the government failed to report on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the responsible committee discussed the country in the absence of a report and provided a list of issues that needed to be addressed – including those related to freedom of expression. ‘The country is fearful of looking bad outside, so they decided to respond on this list of issues, but they were simply justifying their position’ instead of reporting on progress made.’ In the past, government officials have made pronouncements about not being dictated to by international bodies (without a reaction from the government). Senator Vuka ‘Moi Moi’ Masilela’s pronouncements on the kingdom withdrawing from the International Labour Organisation are a recent case in point. ‘The government appears two-faced on this issue.’ 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: 14 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ESWATINI 2018 ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ 1.5 (2005: n/a; 2007: n/a; 2009: 1.9; 2011: 1.5; 2014: 1.2)