The constitution and law provide for both freedom of assembly and association and both are generally respected. Citizens also have the right to organize associations and political parties and this is generally been respected, although parliamentary elections planned for late 2012 were delayed over disputes concerning a new electoral law and security forces violently dispersed several opposition-led protests.^[67]

Women have equal rights with men to vote and to participate in political life, but in practice, there are few women in positions of leadership, either in formal politics or civil society. Eight of the country’s 81 MPs are women, as are seven members of the 32-member cabinet;^[68] in 2013, 15.4% of the seats in the national parliament were held by women.^[69]  In 2009 Victoire Dogbe Tomegah became the first woman to serve as presidential chief of staff,^[70] while in 2010, for the first time, a women represented a political party in the presidential elections.^[71]At the community level, women are underrepresented on the grassroots development committees that operate in most villages.^[72] However, Togo recently amended the national electoral law in 2013, which now requires that candidate lists include equal numbers of men and women, to be applied from the next (2018) legislative election onwards. In addition, a 2013 law on Political Party and Electoral Campaign Funding provides that 20% of public funding allocated to political parties be distributed in proportion to the number of women elected in previous legislative elections, and that 10% of public funding be distributed in proportion to the number of women elected from each political party in previous local elections.^[73]

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by law, but in practice, is restricted in Togo. Amnesty International reports that in 2009, media outlets were pressured into not voicing criticism of the government, following an attempted coup in April of that year.^[74] Impunity for crimes against journalists and frequent defamation suits also encourage self-censorship.^[75] Media outlets have been suspended from broadcasting overly politically programs and private print and broadcast outlets have low capacity.^[76] Recent data on women’s representation in the media is not available, although a 2004 report to the CEDAW Committee noted that women are underrepresented in the media at all levels.^[77]

In Togo, pregnant women are entitled to 14 weeks paid maternity leave (to be paid half by the employer and half by the government), and gender discrimination in regard to hiring and pay is illegal under the 2006 Labour Code (Arts. 3, 39, 118).^[78] The World Bank considers 81% of Togolese women to be economically active, but most women work in the informal sector, meaning they are not protected by employment legislation.^[79] According to the new 2012 Persons and Family Code (Art. 107), a married woman can get a job or pursue a trade or profession in the same way as a man (whereas previously, a husband had the legal right to bar his wife from working).^[80]