1 September 2004
LEGAL REFORMS DECRIMINALISE DEFAMATION
Journalists in Togo can no longer be sent to prison for defaming or insulting officials, following a decision by the government to reform a controversial press law, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontierès, RSF).
On 24 August 2004, Togo's National Assembly passed amendments to the Press and Communications Law, which included abolishing prison sentences for offences such as defamation and insult. Provisions that gave the interior minister powers to order the closing or seizure of newspapers were also repealed.
The legal reforms follow talks held last April between Togo and the European Union (EU). The Togolese government is keen to re-secure foreign aid from the EU, which has withheld support for the past decade because of the government's poor record on democracy and human rights.
Since April, the Togolese government has created a reform commission made up of journalists associations, government officials, the Togolese media observatory and the broadcast and communications authority, to examine the Press and Communications Law. The new amendments passed by Togo's parliament almost exactly mirror the results of their work, says RSF. They have been welcomed by the Togolese Journalists' Union (l'Union des journalistes Indépendants du Togo).
However, RSF also notes that the amended law still contains provisions that worry press freedom advocates. Journalists convicted for defamation and insult can be fined up to 5 million CFA francs (approx. US$9,000).
Visit these links:
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11245
- Committee to Protect Journalists' Report on Togo: http://www.cpj.org/attacks03/africa03/togo.html
- International Press Institute: http://www.freemedia.at/wpfr/Africa/togo.htm
- IRIN News:
www.irinnews.org
(Map: © Human Rights Watch)
RSS