A/HRC/20/17 6. The Special Rapporteur also emphasizes that journalists must seek to develop their professional abilities academically and in practice; journalists may form professional associations to guarantee professionalism and common ethical standards; and journalists may register for the purposes of obtaining an identification card to allow them to have access to certain events. However, under no circumstances should such conditions be imposed by State authorities as preconditions to practice journalism, given that journalism as a profession can only fulfil its role if it has full guarantees of freedom and protection. II. Activities of the Special Rapporteur A. Communications 7. Between 1 April 2011 and 20 March 2012, the Special Rapporteur sent 218 communications, 213 of which were submitted jointly with other special procedures mandate holders. The geographical distribution of the communications was as follows: 29 per cent for Asia and the Pacific; 23 per cent for the Middle East and North Africa; 21 per cent for Latin America and the Caribbean; 15 per cent for Europe, Central Asia and North America; and 12 per cent for Africa. The summary of communications sent and replies received from Governments can be found in the following special procedures communications reports: A/HRC/18/51, A/HRC/19/44 and A/HRC/20/30. B. 1. Country visits Missions undertaken in 2011 8. The Special Rapporteur undertook a mission to Algeria from 10 to 17 April 2011. His main findings and recommendations to the Government can be found in the addendum to this report (A/HRC/20/17/Add.1). 9. The Special Rapporteur visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories from 6 to 17 December 2011. His main findings and recommendations can be found in the addendum to this report (A/HRC/20/17/Add.2). 2. Upcoming missions 10. Following an invitation received from the Government of Honduras on 25 October 2011, the Special Rapporteur is in the process of finalizing dates for a joint visit with the Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 11. Following an invitation received from the Government of Pakistan on 7 February 2012, the Special Rapporteur is in the process of confirming the specific dates of the visit. 3. Pending visit requests 12. As of March 2012, the following visit requests from the Special Rapporteur were pending: Ecuador (requested most recently in February 2012), Iran (Islamic Republic of) (requested in February 2010), Italy (requested in 2009), Sri Lanka (requested in June 2009), Thailand (requested in 2012), Tunisia (requested in 2009), Uganda (requested in May 2011) and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (requested in 2003 and 2009). 4