A/HRC/20/22 15. The Special Rapporteur attended an expert meeting on the use of force in armed conflicts, held in Geneva on 26 January 2012. 16. From 26 to 28 January 2012, the Special Rapporteur participated in the Wilton Park conference entitled ―Peaceful Protest: A Cornerstone of Democracy—How to Address the Challenges?‖, sponsored by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. 17. On 20 February 2012, the Special Rapporteur took part in a panel discussion at the Harvard International Law Journal Symposium on State ethics, held at Harvard Law School, where he gave a speech on extrajudicial executions and targeted killings. 18. The Special Rapporteur organized an expert meeting on the safety of journalists, held in Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 1 and 2 March 2012, with the support of the University of Cambridge Centre of Governance and Human Rights. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the present report. E. Intended future areas of research 19. The Special Rapporteur notes the trail-breaking work carried out by his predecessor, Philip Alston, on the human rights and humanitarian law impacts of lethal robotic technologies (A/65/321). The Special Rapporteur shares his predecessor‘s concern that these technologies are rapidly proliferating, with far too little analysis from a human rights perspective. Accordingly, he intends to deepen and expand work in this crucial area. The Special Rapporteur will undertake detailed research and consultations with legal, robotics, weapons, and ethics experts through 2012-2013, and will report his findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in 2013. III. Protection of the right to life of journalists Context5 A. 20. Because of the power of information, news and journalism is a heavily contested domain. Journalists are often in a vulnerable position, where their physical integrity and life may be at stake because of the actions of State or non-State actors. They may face attempts at influence or censorship, but also in some cases physical danger, ranging from getting caught in crossfire to threats, attempted or actual assaults, abductions, disappearances, and even death. If journalists are in danger, the media cannot be free. 21. The most extreme form of censorship is to kill a journalist. The killing not only silences the voice of the particular journalist, but also intimidates other journalists and the public in general. The free flow of ideas and information is replaced by the silent warning of the grave. 22. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur examines how legal and other protective measures may be used to protect the right to life of journalists, and those close to them, against actual deprivation of life and assaults on their physical integrity that may endanger life. 5 The Special Rapporteur thanks the University of Cambridge Centre of Governance and Human Rights for its valuable research support. 5