Expression

Article 12 of the Constitution protects the freedom of expression, with limitations on the grounds of defence, public safety, public morality, public order, public health and the protection of the rights and reputations of others. Several independent media outlets exist, included privately-owned newspapers and those run by different political parties. There are no restrictions on internet access. There have been no recent reports of killings of journalists, and media professionals are reported to work in a safe environment. Media self-regulation mechanisms exist. However, there was concern about the neutrality of state-owned media during the 2015 election. Defamation remains a criminal offence, punishable by a maximum two-year sentence. While the government stated in 2013 that freedom of information legislation was a priority, and a parliamentary debate was held in 2015, at present the proposed legislation has not been enacted.