A/HRC/7/14 Page 2 Summary This report is submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1. This is the last annual report that will be submitted by the current mandate-holder, whose term expires in August 2008. This report presents a review of the main trends and issues tackled during the Special Rapporteur’s tenure. In particular, it highlights the most important patterns and challenges that emerge for the implementation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Chapter I summarizes the main activities of the Special Rapporteur undertaken in 2007, including an analysis of communication trends in the period. Chapter II presents an overall review of the main issues addressed by the Special Rapporteur throughout his mandate, specifically in the realms of the right of access to information, safety and protection of media professionals, legal restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression as well as the impact of freedom of expression on the realization of other human rights. Section III presents the general conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur. This report contains as an addendum the summary of communications sent by the Special Rapporteur from 1 January to 4 December 2007 and replies received thereto from Governments by 21 January 2008. Addenda 2 and 3 are the reports of the Special Rapporteur’s country visits to Ukraine and Azerbaijan, respectively. The main conclusions and recommendations presented by the Special Rapporteur include: - The Special Rapporteur urges Governments to conduct an in-depth assessment of existing national legislation as well as judicial practices related to all forms of freedom of opinion and expression and to commence, whenever necessary, reform processes in order to guarantee conformity with international human rights norms and standards. The Special Rapporteur also recommends that Governments focus on the protection and the promotion of media independence as a priority, in order to ensure a constant advancement in the field of freedom of opinion and expression;