A/HRC/11/4 page 16 expression and access to information. Such programmes should encourage active participation of the community in their initiation, production and presentation to empower the poorest people and communities and as a means of reducing poverty. B. Safety and protection of media professionals 64. The Special Rapporteur reiterates the recommendations of his predecessors that Governments should translate their formal concerns about the safety of journalists, elaborated in international forums and treaty law, into concrete measures for enhancing the safety of journalists and other media personnel including at the legislative, administrative and judicial levels. Measures should be taken to protect all media personnel regardless of their professional and political affiliation. The protection of journalists and media workers must be ensured at all times, particularly during armed conflicts, states of emergency and public disorder and electoral processes. Governments are also urged to ensure the protection of other groups at risk, such as trade unionists, social workers, students and teachers, writers and artists. 65. Creating a culture of safety for journalism adds to the capacity of media to contribute to building prosperous and confident democracies. The Special Rapporteur urges Governments and State institutions to provide support and an assurance that all acts of violence against journalists are fully investigated. Limiting impunity for the perpetrators of crimes against media professionals will function as an important deterrent against the repetition of these crimes. 66. The Special Rapporteur encourages Governments to develop protection schemes for media personnel. News associations should be supported in promoting actions that secure the safety of journalists, including safety training, health care, life insurance, and equal access to social protection for freelance employees and full-time staff. 67. The Council may wish to consider the opportunity, as previously suggested by his predecessor, of entrusting the Special Rapporteur with the preparation of a study on the causes of violence against media professionals, based, inter alia, on information from and the experiences of Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and including a comprehensive set of conclusions and recommendations and the drafting of guidelines for the protection of journalists and other media professionals. This study could represent the first step towards a debate, within the Human Rights Council, on this crucial issue, following the discussions held by other bodies, including the Security Council. -----