A/HRC/20/22 journalists and the corrosive effects that such attacks have on society. Greater awareness should also be raised about the international standards and available entry points. Federal as opposed to state investigations and prosecutions may be required and international, in addition to domestic, remedies must be used. 94. There is considerable scope for those actors in countries that are part of regional human rights systems or mechanisms to take up the matter, for example through their special procedures and, to some extent, through interim measures. 95. The primary objective should be prevention. Accountability, with its strong justice dimension, should not be regarded as standing in contrast to prevention— accountability is also the key to preventing recurrence. Impunity is one of the main causes, if not the main cause, of the killing of journalists. 96. The existing entry points in the international system at the United Nations and regional levels, especially special procedures and interim or protective measures, are not currently used to their full capacity. The relevant actors should be made aware of and encouraged to use these mechanisms. A one-page exposition of some of these entry points, with contact numbers and e-mail addresses, called “Emergency contact details for journalists at risk”, is available online.80 97. At the local level there are significant shortcomings in the implementation in domestic law of the international normative framework, especially in terms of accountability frameworks. 98. It is not enough that Governments and others are told that journalists need protection. They have to understand why this is needed. Constant and effective advocacy, backed up by statistics, is required. 99. The ability of the State to protect journalists largely depends on the extent to which there is general appreciation of the importance of free speech, enabling legislation is in place, the rule of law prevails, and the political will to protect journalists exists. 100. Violence against journalists thrives where the protection of free speech is absent. 101. National human rights institutions (NHRIs) likewise have an important potential role. 102. Local journalists and foreign correspondents play complementary roles. While journalists based in their home countries have local legitimacy and offer an insider’s view, foreign correspondents are often well placed to attract international attention. While the local journalists are often more vulnerable, foreign correspondents may prove to be more difficult to silence, and can in some cases continue to spread the message. There is, however, an underappreciation of the dangers faced by local journalists, and the fact that they are most at risk. 103. Threats against journalists and physical assaults should be regarded as early warning signals that more drastic measures may follow. 104. The statistics on impunity concerning the killing of journalists will be more compelling if they are compared to statistics concerning the general level of accountability for killings in that particular population. 80 18 See http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID= 16621&subid=16621&ipklookid=10.