Togo in West Africa is currently rated as "Partly Free" by Freedom House.

Overview

In the past, the country was labeled "Not Free" by Freedom House from 1972 to 1998, and again from 2002 to 2006. It has been categorized as "Partly Free" from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2007 to the present (according to the government officials).

According to a U.S. State Department report based on conditions in 2010, problems include "security force use of excessive force, including torture, which resulted in deaths and injuries; official impunity; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; lengthy pretrial detention; executive influence over the judiciary; infringement of citizens' privacy rights; restrictions on freedoms of press, assembly, and movement; official corruption; discrimination and violence against women; child abuse, including female genital mutilation (FGM), and sexual exploitation of children; regional and ethnic discrimination; trafficking in persons, especially women and children; societal discrimination against persons with disabilities; official and societal discrimination against homosexual persons; societal discrimination against persons with HIV; and forced labor, including by children."

The 2021 report notes improvements in the country's personal freedoms.US State Dept 2021 report, Retrieved 2023-4-25

Historical background

Togo, once a German protectorate, and later a French possession, won independence in 1960 and has been criticized for its human rights record ever since. Military leader Gnassingbe Eyadema took power in 1967; despite the legalization of political parties in 1991 and the ratification of a democratic constitution in 1992, the regime continued to be regarded as oppressive, and in 1993 the EU cut off aid in reaction to the regime's human rights offenses. After's Eyadema death in 2005 his son, Faure Gnassingbe, took over, then stood down and was elected in elections that were widely described as having been fixed and which occasioned violence that resulted in as many as 600 deaths and the flight from Togo of 40,000 refugees.

The following is a chart of Togo's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House. A rating of 1 is "free"; 7, "not free". YearPolitical RightsCivil LibertiesStatusPresident 197275Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 197375Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 197476Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 197576Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 197676Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 197776Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 197876Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 197977Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198076Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198176Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198276Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198376Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198466Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198566Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198666Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198766Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198866Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 198966Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199066Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199165Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199265Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199375Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199465Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199565Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199665Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199765Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199865Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 199955Partly FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 200055Partly FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 200155Partly FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 200265Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 200365Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 200465Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 200565Not FreeGnassingbé Eyadéma 200665Not FreeFaure Gnassingbé 200755Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 200855Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 200954Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201054Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201154Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201254Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201354Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201444Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201544Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201644Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201744Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201844Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 201954Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 202054Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 202154Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 202254Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé 202354Partly FreeFaure Gnassingbé

Basic rights

Togo's constitution and laws forbid discrimination "based on race, gender, religion, disability, language, or social status", but these prohibitions are not adequately enforced. Although Togo's constitution and laws guarantee freedom of speech and of the press, there are considerable restrictions on those rights, with many journalists being fined or sued for defamation, and some engaging in self-censorship to avoid lawsuits or violent reprisals. Libel fines can be as high as 5 million CFA francs (US$10,000), and the number of libel cases and convictions, especially involving statements about the president and his family, peaked in 2010. In 2011, journalists formed "SOS Journalists in Danger" after several of them were named in an anonymous note, supposedly from the government, which threatened torture and physical abuse.

According to a 2012 report by Freedom House, the size of Togo's private media sector "is impressive for a relatively small country, and its content is often highly politicized. There are approximately 30 privately owned newspapers that publish with some regularity, including 2 dailies, about 100 private radio stations...and 8 independent television stations." Print media do not require official licenses, but "[p]ervasive impunity for crimes against journalists has created an illiberal media environment marked by self-censorship that persisted during the tense election year of 2010 and only improved marginally in 2011".

The High Authority of Audiovisuals and Communications (HAAC) is supposed to be an independent agency that protects freedom of the press, in fact it censors the media on behalf of the government, and has the power to suspend newspapers for six months and to confiscate journalists' press cards and equipment. Also, radio stations cannot retransmit foreign programs without HAAC approval. Still, much of the press is very critical of the government, while government-owned media are heavily biased in its favor. Although the private media has grown in the last decade or so, the government still owns the media outlets with the largest audiences, including the only nationwide TV station.

In 2012, the HAAC suspended the call-in shows on Légende FM, an order that was backed up by a magistrate in Lomé. The station's news director, Guy Mario, said that it "was being punished for its shows in June in which callers had criticized the violent crackdown by security forces on anti-government protests in Lomé....Mario said that the programs, which ran for nine days, featured participants criticizing the government in uncensored language." The station was not given the chance to defend itself in court, which is contrary to Togolese law. "We were never informed, invited, or summoned to the tribunal – neither us nor our lawyers," Mario said.

During the 2010 presidential election campaign, French journalists were denied accreditation until election day; the situation on this front improved in 2011.

There are no restrictions on, or monitoring of, Internet use. A security force is maintained at the University of Lome to intimidate academics, and undercover government informants attend classes. While Togo's constitution and laws guarantee freedom of assembly, it is generally restricted, with the government preventing meetings of its opponents and using force, including deadly force, to disperse anti-government demonstrations. Likewise, though Togo technically guarantees the right to move freely around the country, travel abroad, emigrate, and repatriate, these rights are also restricted in practice, with armed forces manning checkpoints around the country at which they arbitrarily search travelers and demand bribes.

In May 2012, a law was passed requiring prior notification of public demonstrations. In the same year, security forces used excessive force to disperse a number of demonstrators, and the head of the ANC was subjected to house arrest to keep him from taking part in protests. Student activists connected to the Mouvement pour l'épanouissement des étudiants togolais (Movement for the development of Togolese students, MEET) were arrested, wounded by rubber bullets, and generally abused.

Corruption is a crime, but is rarely punished. According to the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators for 2009, government corruption was a severe problem. Corruption was common among prison officials, police officers, and members of the judiciary. The 2005 presidential election was rife with fraud, intimidation, and violence, but the 2010 election was relatively peaceful and was considered generally free and fair.

The opposition began holding protests in April demanding electoral reforms, calling for an end to the Gnassingbé dynasty, and insisting on respect for human rights. Government security forces brutally put down several demonstrations in mid 2012. In October 2012, a sociology student described the situation as "very worrying", noting that the opposition "is hardening its stance and the government doesn't seem to be listening". A former economy and finance minister said at the same time that the Togolese people "are angry about the government's slip-ups in terms of human rights, acting arbitrarily and using the judiciary to cling to power".

In Togo, where 33 percent of the population is animist, 28 percent Catholic, 14 percent Sunni Muslim, and 10 percent Protestant, and where both Christian and Muslim holy days are national holidays, there have been no reports in recent years of abuses of religious freedom or of discrimination based on religious affiliation. Members of different religions regularly invite one another to worship services, according to a 2012 U.S. State Department report on religious freedom, which also notes that religious intermarriage is common.

Human rights groups

Human rights groups in Togo include the Togolese League of Human Rights, the Center for Observation and Promotion of the Rule of Law, and the Togolese Association for the Defense and Protection of Human Rights. Although these groups, as well as many of their international counterparts, are allowed to operate in Togo, the government usually pays no heed to their recommendations. The national assembly also has a human rights committee, but it plays a minimal role.

En aucun cas () raises awareness of human rights issues in Togo. Its leader, Foly Satchivi, has been arrested on multiple occasions because of his activism.

Women's rights

Rape is widespread and is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison, sometimes 20 years, for example in cases of child rape or gang rape. Victims tend not to report rapes owing to stigma and fear of reprisal. Spousal rape is not a crime, nor is domestic violence, although it is also widespread. Police tend not to get involved in domestic abuse, the government has no official program to address it, and women are unaware of their rights in such situations. Sexual harassment is also widespread, and though it is technically illegal the law against it is not enforced.

Families have the right to plan children as they wish. Under the law women are equal, but they suffer social and official discrimination on a variety of fronts, thanks to the enforcement of traditional laws. For example, husbands have the right to tell their wives not to work and have control over the money they earn. Although legally women are entitled to equal pay, this law is not respected in most sectors. Women can own property, but are not entitled to child support or any other payments if they divorce and do not have a right to inherit their husbands' property. Polygamy is common. It is the job of the Ministry of Social Action and National Solidarity to ensure that women know what their rights are.

Children's rights