A/HRC/27/35 I. Introduction 1. On 11 June 2014, the Human Rights Council held, pursuant to its decision 24/116, a panel discussion on the safety of journalists The panel focused on the findings contained in the report submitted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), pursuant to Council resolution 21/12, containing a compilation of good practices in the protection of journalists, the prevention of attacks against journalists and the fight against impunity for such attacks.1 2. Also in its decision 24/116, the Human Rights Council requested OHCHR to prepare and submit a summary report on the panel discussion to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-seventh session. The present report was prepared pursuant to that request. 3. The objectives of the panel discussion were (a) to examine the findings of the abovementioned OHCHR report; (b) to identify challenges and good practices to ensure the safety of journalists, including the sharing of information on initiatives undertaken to protect them and to fight impunity for such attacks; (c) to promote a better understanding of international human rights norms and standards relevant to the safety of journalists; and (d) to contribute to the development of an appropriate response by the Human Rights Council. 4. The panel discussion was chaired by the President of the Human Rights Council, and moderated by the journalist Ghida Fakhry Khane. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights gave an opening address. The panellists were the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Getachew Engida; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue; Dunja Mijatović, Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); Abeer Saady, journalist and vice-President of the Syndicate of Journalists of Egypt; and Frank Smyth, journalist and senior adviser for journalist security to the Committee to Protect Journalists. II. Opening statement by the High Commissioner 5. The High Commissioner, in her opening remarks, stated that sound, bold and independent journalism was vital in any democratic society. It drove the right to hold and express opinions and the right to seek, impart and receive information and ideas; it ensured transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affairs and other matters of public interest; and was the lifeblood that fuels the full and informed participation of all individuals in political life and decision-making processes. The safety of journalists was quite simply essential to the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of all individuals, as well as to the right to development. 6. The High Commissioner noted, however, that more than 1,000 journalists had been killed since 1992 as a direct result of their profession, that 2012 and 2013 had been among the deadliest years for journalists, and that at least 15 journalists had been killed since the start of 2014. She deplored the high levels of impunity, referring to reports that, between 2007 and 2012, fewer than one in 10 killings of journalists had resulted in a conviction. Many more journalists had faced violence, harassment and intimidation, including abduction, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, expulsion, illegal surveillance, 1 A/HRC/24/23. 3