A/HRC/27/33 23. Secondly, the Special Rapporteur noted that the power of the Internet had been amply demonstrated during the Arab spring, and consequently a backlash was observed in many States, which imposed barriers to the use of the Internet and made communication riskier. Access to the Internet had become more limited, websites were blocked and hundreds of bloggers were imprisoned all over the world. Some States argued that restrictions on the use of the Internet stemmed from traditional values, religious or cultural identities; others claimed that limitations were justified by reasons of national security. 24. A third challenge noted by the Special Rapporteur was the increase in attacks against media workers and violence against journalists, including so-called “citizen journalists”. It was crucial to stop attacks and sexual harassment against women journalists. These attacks took place not only in countries witnessing conflict, but also in countries at peace. He found this unacceptable and called for a response from the international community. Attacks against the press reflected on all parts of society because they undermined the right of everyone to have access to information, as without this people would be unable to make informed decisions or challenge public policies. 25. Fourthly, the Special Rapporteur pointed out that denying access to information held by public bodies undermined the work of civil society. He called for strengthening access to public information. He found it ironic that, while there were more laws adopted on access to information, there were also more limitations imposed under the pretext of national security. He considered that acts of elected or appointed public officials should be a public matter and subject to transparency not only on financial and budgetary elements, but also on the broader issue of public policy decision-making. 26. A fifth challenge was to ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, which were limited in a number of ways. The Special Rapporteur noted that, increasingly, more steps and procedures were needed before an association could be formed. The opportunities for civil society to raise funds were also limited, in particular as there were often regulations relating to accepting funds from abroad. These factors reduced the space and opportunities for civil society to organize and participate because, as nonprofit organizations, civil society organizations were unable to generate their own resources and depended on contributions. 27. Lastly, the Special Rapporteur noted with concern that some Governments adopted regulations and practices to impede peaceful protests. Peaceful demonstrations were sanctioned as criminal activities or as a threat to security, and such measures stifled freedom of expression in societies that did not have access to the media or technological forms of communication. F. Film, music and arts producer 28. Ms. Khan spoke about the relevance of art to human rights and democracy. Art was a universal, human, basic and direct form of communication, with the capacity to make people feel and think. Art had many purposes in society, and could include an expression of beauty, hope, discomfort or something that tells a story. In her view, artistic expression could liberate people in a way that made exerting control over them more difficult. 29. Ms. Khan noted that thousands of artists around the world used their creativity in the service of social activism, and many artists had became the voice of the voiceless by exposing injustice, human rights abuses or corruption. In some countries, artists were targeted, harassed, threatened, tortured, imprisoned or killed. She recalled that, when Taliban movement came to power in Afghanistan, among the first things removed from public life were music and art. She highlighted the fact that a woman artist faced the same dangers as her male counterparts, as well as gender-specific challenges, in certain societies. 7