SECTOR 1 1.4 The Government makes every effort to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and freedom of the media. Botswana has signed several international and regional instruments such as the Windhoek Declaration and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Botswana has a dualist system, ‘whereby signing and ratifying international instruments do not give those [instruments] local applicability.’ For the treaties and protocols to be binding and apply locally, the government ‘has to domesticate and make these instruments part of the law.’ ‘We can shine internationally and look good but when we get home’ these commitments are easily forgotten. ‘We never get to know what has been signed internationally, we only know by chance if we get invited to some of the [international] seminars or conventions.’ ‘Government also takes advantage of us in the media “being ignorant” of our legal rights.’ Therefore, the media and the public will often be unaware of international protocols relating to their sector. Hence, they will not be able to advocate for the domestication of such protocols and regulations to hold government accountable. Even if action is taken, it is usually purely cosmetic, as was the case with the establishment of the Botswana Ombudsman who ‘is powerless in many ways’ and therefore does not have any real impact. 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: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2.4 (2005 = n/a; 2007 = n/a; 2009 = 1.3; 2011 = 1.6; 2014 = 1.9) 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. Print publications are required to register with the Postmaster General of the Post Office, which is a requirement ‘inherited from colonial days.’ The regulation 14 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2018