A/HRC/4/27 page 16 justice perpetrators of human rights violations against journalists and media workers. The Special Rapporteur also shares the opinion that media enterprises must reinforce their commitment for the safety of journalists and undertake proper measures to allow them, in the best possible ways, to carry out their work in dangerous situations. 61. The Special Rapporteur takes note with appreciation of the efforts, by specialized institutes and organizations, regarding the adoption of principles and rules, as well as a press emblem, to increase the safety of media professionals.9 These initiatives underline the magnitude of the problem and can bring an expert contribution to the debate surrounding the action to be taken at international level on this issue. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur ideally believes that the adoption by the General Assembly of guidelines on the safety and security of media professionals working in war zones or conflict areas can provide the international community with an international instrument that could easily be implemented at national level by all actors involved.10 Presently, the first priority would be the preparation of a study in order to furnish the Council with a comprehensive and impartial analysis of the phenomenon, including a number of viable options for an operative approach to eventual solutions. 62. Such a study could include the following issues: international protection enjoyed by media professionals and their legal status, especially while on mission in dangerous zones; root causes of violence against them; State responsibility and individual accountability, ways and means to improve their safety and security through initiatives taken by, inter alia, media 9 International News Safety Institute, Protection of Journalists in conflict - Fundamental Rules Brussels, 7 August 2006, see http://www.newssafety.com/stories/insi/conflictrules.htm. Reporters without Borders, Charter for the safety of journalists working in war zones or dangerous areas, Paris 2002, see http://www.rsf.org/print.php3?id_article=2350. For the Press Emblem initiative and the Media Casualties Ticking Clock, see www.pressemblem.ch. 10 See First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, section III, chapter III, Journalists, article 79. Measures of protection for journalists (1) Journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians within the meaning of article 50, paragraph 1. (2) They shall be protected as such under the Conventions and this Protocol, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians, and without prejudice to the right of war correspondents accredited to the armed forces to the status provided for in article 4 A (4) of the Third Convention. (3) They may obtain an identity card similar to the model in annex II of this Protocol. This card, which shall be issued by the Government of the State of which the journalist is a national or in whose territory he resides or in which the news medium employing him is located, shall attest to his status as a journalist.