A/HRC/24/23 66. Where attacks have been committed, States should take steps to mitigate their impact, including by providing such services as free medical care, psychological support and legal services, as well as assistance in relocating journalists and their families. States may also establish or contribute to funds or other mechanisms that provide support to families of journalists who have been killed, including financial support, education grants, and medical and psychological treatment. E. Awareness-raising measures 67. Initiatives for raising public awareness about the issue of safety of journalists and a zero-tolerance approach to violence against journalists should be implemented at the local and national levels, including by incorporating the issue of safety of journalists in formal public education programmes. Such activities could also include establishing national observance days to highlight the role of, and dangers faced by, journalists, and publicly promoting World Press Freedom Day. 68. States should also promote the issue of the safety of journalists within intergovernmental organizations, including the Human Rights Council, and regional and international organizations, as well as through regional and international conferences and meetings. States may also consider providing support to awareness-raising and informationsharing activities carried out by international and regional organizations and civil society groups. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 69. In all societies, journalists and other media professionals play a critical role, which is, however, seriously undermined by the violence that many journalists experience in the course of carrying out their professional duties. The threats and attacks against them constitute violations, including gross violations, of fundamental human rights; they also function to intimidate and silence journalists and other media professionals with a significant and highly troubling impact on the right to freedom of expression and opinion. 70. It is incumbent on States to ensure the safety of journalists through the implementation and enforcement of existing norms and standards. As such, first and foremost, States should implement their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law to ensure the rights of journalists and other media professionals, including through the full respect of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the other fundamental rights of all journalists and other media professionals. 71. The good practices described in the present report include key elements of a framework for a safe and enabling environment in which journalists and other media professionals may carry out their work unhindered. The exact nature of each given system for protection may differ among States. Essential components include a firm political commitment that translates into clear and effective legislative measures to prevent threats and attacks against journalists and other media professionals, and accountability in all cases of attack. 72. Ending the prevailing impunity that surrounds violence and attacks against journalists is a challenge that must be addressed actively to guarantee the protection of journalists and other media professionals. States must ensure that investigations into threats and attacks are conducted effectively, promptly, thoroughly, independently and impartially, and that prosecutions are brought where there is the 17