A/HRC/11/4 page 13 results in the restriction of their movement and of their access to reliable and objective sources of information, the increasing use of embedded journalists and the insecurity that exists regarding their status of protection. 46. In 2008, the Special Rapporteur received reports that lawyers investigating the killing of Radio Okapi journalist Serge Mahese, were subjected to ongoing threats and harassment. Serge Mahese was shot dead in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 13 June 2007. He was a respected journalist with Radio Okapi, a national radio station sponsored jointly by the Swiss Hirondelle Foundation and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). 47. The main provisions protecting journalists and other media professionals in situations of armed conflict come from humanitarian law, in particular from special measures contained in article 79 of Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts. This article establishes that “journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians” and “shall be protected as such under the Conventions and this Protocol, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians”. The civilian status of journalists transcends any type of contractual arrangement that the journalist may have; equal protection is granted to freelance, independent or to journalists belonging to any media. 48. The Security Council passed resolution 1738 (2006) to express its deep concern “at the frequency of acts of violence in many parts of the world against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflict”, and it condemned intentional attacks against this group. The Security Council also underlined the obligation under humanitarian law to grant civilian status to journalists during armed conflicts, as established by the Geneva Conventions. 49. The Special Rapporteur supports this Security Council resolution, adopted on the joint initiative of Greece and France, and would encourage States to give renewed attention to the fact that the media, its personnel and its equipment as long as they are not making an effective contribution to military action cannot be considered a legitimate target and attacks against them are illegal under international humanitarian law. 50. Journalists and media professionals are not only at risk during times of conflict, but many are targeted during public crises and states of emergency. In such cases, journalists are often victims of abuse and harassment by the security forces, and are subjected to arrests and detention. Throughout 2008, the Special Rapporteur has received reports of such human rights violations against journalists, particularly those covering public demonstrations opposing government policies. D. Implementing the right of access to information in situations of extreme poverty 51. Extreme poverty, often described as multidimensional and not limited to income, but also touching livelihood, health, education and housing as well as social, cultural and political participation, affects millions of people worldwide. This multidimensional approach to poverty is paralleled by an integrated understanding of human rights, in which civil and political rights are indivisible from social, economic and cultural rights.