A/HRC/4/27 page 18 66. Governments and State institutions have the primary responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of citizens, including media professionals. The quest for international legal norms covering safety and protection of media professionals is a subject of great urgency which needs speedy replies from the international human rights community. Impunity of perpetrators, who often escape from any kind of legal procedure, has increasingly become a deterrent to the growing of independent and pluralist information. Lack of action, negligence or collusion with criminal entities is to be, at various extents, considered as a pattern of human rights violation. 67. As already noted in previous years, the current international situation has had a negative effect on freedom of expression and freedom of movement: several Governments have enforced preventive anti-terrorism legislation some of which may result in the reintroduction of practices that are prohibited under international human rights law.12 The Special Rapporteur observes that such legislation, especially when enforcing closing of media enterprises, censorship on publications and programmes, arrest and detention measures concerning media professionals, is naturally having a negative effect on freedom of expression. The same can be said for freedom of association: trade unions, student groups, social and cultural societies, intellectuals have been suffering from the implementation of laws that inevitably restrict the realm of freedom of expression. 68. Media play a vital role in a society by providing an arena for debate, exchange of opinions and ideas. In numerous countries, media activities are guaranteed by a body of norms and regulations defending freedom of expression, especially in debating controversial subjects of public interest. The existence of a code of ethics encourages media professionals to work efficiently through an array of voices and perspectives that help audiences to grasp the quintessence of events and situations.13 69. The exercise of freedom of expression by media professionals demands good judgement, rationality and a sense of responsibility. Insulting religions, deep-rooted beliefs and ethnic identities through the use of stereotypes and labelling is not conducive to creating an enabling environment for a constructive and peaceful dialogue among different communities. Polarization based on distorted arguments can spread ethnic and religious hatred thus endangering delicate social and cultural balances, which are the results of relentless efforts to consolidate a harmonious multicultural society. Journalist associations should ensure that the debate among professionals on contentious issues, such as religious matters, can provide the category with insights and in-depth analyses. 12 13 See the Annex of the present report. The Five Fault Lines by the late Robert C. Maynard are an excellent example of rationalization of this problem, see http://www.maynardije.org/programs/faultlines/.