A/HRC/4/27 page 15 57. Writers are at the heart of freedom of expression and human progress. Unsurprisingly, writers are one of the preferred targets of censorship especially when, as it is often the case, they propose perspectives and opinions which are unpopular with the dominant political, economic and religious elites. In many countries, long prison sentences are used to silence writers and to warn others from speaking out. The Special Rapporteur wishes to commend the initiative of the PEN Writers in Prison Committee to declare 15 November the day of the Imprisoned Writer. This kind of peaceful action contributes to draw the attention of the public on issues, which are not sufficiently covered by major media companies. D. Security and protection of media professionals 58. The Special Rapporteur continues to be appalled by the increasing number of killings and other forms of violence against media workers, whose professional risk has now become unacceptably high. Over the past 12 years, more than 1,100 journalists and media staff have been killed in the line of duty.7 This tragic figure is the price for independent and pluralist information, where the multiplicity of perspectives and opinions allow people to make up their own minds about subjects of significant interest. Violence against journalists is also thriving with many instances of mental and physical harassment and threats, often involving journalists’ families. 59. One hundred and forty-three media professionals, 31 of whom were media staff, were killed from 1 January to 1 December 2006. Thirty-six fell in the American continent, 32 in Asia, 6 in Europe and in Africa, and 63 in the Middle East. This last figure is almost entirely due to the conflict in Iraq, where 59 media professionals lost their lives in the period considered. As of 23 November 2006, 159 journalists and media support staff have been killed since the start of the war in Iraq, by far the most dangerous conflict for the media ever. The majority among them were male Iraqis working in the Baghdad area. Other countries in which the safety of media professionals was a major issue in the same period were Mexico and the Philippines, with eight journalists killed in each. In Mexico, the majority of journalists died following the protests in Oaxaca, while in the Philippines reasons for journalists’ killings include political and religious affiliation, and investigative activities on illicit business. Six media professionals were murdered in Sri Lanka, mainly in the context of the ethnic conflict.8 60. The Special Rapporteur wishes to endorse the resolution adopted by the International Press Institute, at its Annual General Assembly on 29 May 2006, and by the International News Safety Institute on the responsibility of Governments concerning appropriate action to bring to 7 8 International Federation of Journalists, see www.ifj.org. International News Safety Institute, see www.newssafety.com. In addition, other major organizations like the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (see www.cpj.org) and Reporters Sans Frontières (www.rsf.org) provide reliable statistics concerning media professional casualties. Differences are generally due to the possible inclusion or exclusion of figures concerning media support staff - drivers, interpreters - or media professionals other than journalists and reporters, mainly cameramen, soundmen, photographers. Freelance journalists are more difficult to track than professionals working for a media company.