A/HRC/39/23 IV. Monitoring mechanisms 31. Monitoring is a proactive method involving the collection, verification, analysis and use of information to address problems in order to improve protection. In this regard, human rights monitoring is a key tool to respond to human rights concerns and crises, identify violations, patterns, causes and possible solutions, further the accountability of States and individuals, and prevent future violations. 70 OHCHR monitors the situation of journalists globally, reports on human rights violations committed against journalists and makes recommendations addressing violations against journalists in accordance with international human rights law. 32. Concerns about the safety of journalists have been raised in reports by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary-General (see A/72/290, para. 46, footnote 46). Recently, the High Commissioner addressed the situation of journalists in Sri Lanka, referring to two unresolved cases concerning, respectively, the disappearance and killing of two journalists (see A/HRC/37/23, paras. 35 and 37). He also referred to the safety of journalists in the report on the situation of human rights in Libya, and the effectiveness of technical assistance and capacity-building measures received by Libya (A/HRC/37/46, paras. 47–48). In his report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Secretary-General drew attention to the reports received by OHCHR indicating that individuals working for the Persian Service of the British Broadcasting Company and their families in the Islamic Republic of Iran had been harassed, intimidated and threatened by the authorities. 71 In his 2018 report to the Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the Secretary-General referred to the toll of conflict on journalists, with killings, injuries and threats reported in, inter alia, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen. The Secretary-General noted that such incidents had a serious impact on independent reporting, which was essential for exposing human suffering, restraining belligerents and building pressure for political solutions and accountability (see S/2018/462, para. 15). In his 2017 report on the same topic, the Secretary-General urged Member States to inform UNESCO of the status of judicial enquiries into killing of journalists, strengthen protection for journalists reporting in conflict situations and prevent impunity (see S/2017/414, para. 32). 33. Special representatives of the Secretary-General brief the Security Council on country situations, including on the safety of journalists. In March 2017, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia expressed concern about attacks on journalists.72 The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq detailed attacks against journalists and media workers in the Kurdistan region during October 2017, and the decision of the Iraqi federal authorities to ban some media outlets in the Kurdistan region for failing to obtain the necessary licences.73 34. The special procedures of the Human Rights Council undertake country visits to look at human rights situations falling within their mandates. Following his January 2017 visit to Mexico, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders outlined the threats faced by journalists and recommended guaranteeing sufficient resources for the National Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists at the federal and state levels.74 The December 2017 joint mission to Mexico undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression reported on sexual harassment against women journalists, reporters 70 71 72 73 74 10 See www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/OHCHRIntro-12pp.pdf, foreword, third paragraph. See A/HRC/37/24, para. 37. See also A/HRC/37/68, para. 34; and www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22314&LangID=E. See https://unsom.unmissions.org/srsg-michael-keating-briefing-security-council-somalia. See www.uniraq.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=8233:briefing-to-the-securitycouncil-by-srsg-for-iraq-jan-kubis-new-york-22-november-2017-as-prepared&Itemid=712&lang=en. See A/HRC/37/51/Add.2, paras. 33–37 and 115 (l).