A/HRC/24/23 threats and attacks. The enforcement of existing legislation is critical for strengthening the protection of journalists.14 A. International human rights law 11. Threats and attacks against journalists violate a wide range of human rights norms established in both treaty law and customary international law.15 Specifically, journalists and other media professionals experience violations of the right to life,16 the right to liberty and security of person,17 the right to a fair trial,18 the right to equality before the law, 19 the right to recognition before the law20 and rights to privacy, family and home. 21 Attacks against journalists also violate fundamental prohibitions against torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 22 and enforced disappearance.23 In addition to constituting human rights violations, certain conduct can amount to international crimes, including killing, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and enforced disappearance. 12. The right to freedom of expression, an individual right and a collective right held by society as a whole, may also be severely undermined.24 Together with the freedom of opinion, the right to freedom of expression is a prerequisite for every free and democratic 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 See for example A/HRC/20/17, para. 56. Rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are recognized as having the status of customary international law. See for example Human Rights Committee general comments Nos. 24 (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.6) and 29 (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.11). Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 3; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 6; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 4; American Convention on Human Rights, art. 4; Arab Charter on Human Rights, art. 5; European Convention on Human Rights, art. 2(2). See also A/HRC/17/28. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, arts. 3, 9; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 9; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 6; American Convention on Human Rights, art. 7; Arab Charter on Human Rights, art. 14; European Convention on Human Rights, art. 5. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, arts. 10, 11; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 14; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 7; American Convention on Human Rights, art. 8; Arab Charter on Human Rights, art. 13; European Convention on Human Rights, art. 6. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 7; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 26; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 7; American Convention on Human Rights, art. 24; Arab Charter on Human Rights, art. 11; Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 6; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 16; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 5; American Convention on Human Rights, art. 3; Arab Charter on Human Rights, art. 22. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 12; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 17; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 18; American Convention on Human Rights, art. 11; Arab Charter on Human Rights, art. 21; European Convention on Human Rights, art. 8. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 5; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 7; Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 5; American Convention on Human Rights, art. 5; Arab Charter on Human Rights, art. 8; European Convention on Human Rights, art. 3. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 19; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 19: A/HRC/14/23, paras. 29 and 105; CCPR/C/GC/34, paras. 11-12. 5