A/HRC/24/23 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 21/12, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in collaboration with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, to prepare, working in consultation with States and other relevant stakeholders, a compilation of good practices in the protection of journalists, the prevention of attacks and the fight against impunity for attacks committed against journalists, and to present the compilation in a report to the Council at its twenty-fourth session. The present report was prepared pursuant to that request. II. Current situation 2. In keeping the general public informed, journalists and other media professionals play an essential role by ensuring transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affairs and other matters of public interest. It is precisely as a result of this crucial role, however, that journalists are frequently subject to violations of their most fundamental human rights, including abduction, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, expulsion, harassment, killing, surveillance, search and seizure, torture and threats and acts of other forms of violence. Female journalists face additional risks, including being subjected to forms of sexual violence while covering public events or when in detention. 1 3. Such threats and attacks are committed by both State and non-State actors, often to silence journalists documenting and disseminating information or opinions perceived by these actors as sensitive, such as in relation to human rights violations, environmental issues, corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking, public crises, emergencies or public demonstrations.2 4. Given that acts of violence undermine the free flow of information, they have a profound impact on the ability of citizens to contribute to democratic processes by means of informed decisions on a wide range of issues. In this regard, therefore, threats and attacks against journalists also violate the fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression. 5. Trends in threats and attacks against journalists and other media professionals paint a very troubling picture. Reports indicate that, since 1992, approximately 984 journalists have been killed and 232 imprisoned in the exercise of their profession.3 According to other sources, since the start of 2013, 19 journalists have been killed and 177 have been imprisoned.4 In 2012, 90 journalists were killed, the worst figure recorded since 1995.5 In 2012 alone, 879 journalists were arrested, 1,993 were threatened or physically attacked and 38 were kidnapped. Some 73 journalists fled their country as a consequence of attacks or threats of attack.3 1 2 3 4 5 A/HRC/20/17, para. 52. See also Committee to Protect Journalists, “The silencing crime: sexual violence and journalists”, 7 June 2011 (available from http://cpj.org/reports/2011/06/silencing-crimesexual-violence-journalists.php). A/HRC/20/17, para. 51. See website of the Committee to Protect Journalists (www.cpj.org). See website of Reporters Without Borders (http://en.rsf.org). See Reporters Without Borders, 2012 Roundup in Numbers (available from http://en.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/bilanannuelgb.pdf). 3