SECTOR 1 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: 2.0 (2012 = 2.7; 2010 = 2.7; 2008 = 2.8; 2006 = 1.1) 1.3 There are no laws or parts of laws restricting freedom of expression such as excessive official secrets, libel acts, legal requirements that restrict the entry into the journalistic profession or laws that unreasonably interfere with the functions of media. There are several laws that restrict freedom of expression and which may unreasonably interfere with the execution of media functions. Examples include: • The Official Secrets Act of 1967 (section 4), which makes it an offence for anyone to communicate information regarding prohibited places or prohibited information. • The Code of Conduct for the Public Service, made pursuant to the Public Service Act of 2005, (in section 3(2) (i) prohibits civil servants from “directly or indirectly revealing or using for private purposes, any information coming to his knowledge or acquired by him or her either in the course of his or her duties or in his or her capacity as a public officer, otherwise than improper discharge of his or her duties or as authorised by law or a competent authority.” • The Sedition Proclamation, which makes it an offence to publish seditious material. Newspapers have been dragged to court in the past based on this law. • The Criminal Defamation Act of 1967 • The Obscene Publications Act of 1912 • The Internal Security Act of 1984 • The Penal Code “These are old laws that were meant to protect the state, and need to be reviewed.” 16 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2015