A/HRC/15/54 insured, and that a personal follow-up should be provided to them after completion of a dangerous assignment. Additionally, he stated that Governments and their military and security services could contribute to the safety of media staff by providing valuable information on the safety conditions in the field and by giving appropriate instructions to the troops on the rights of media staff. 9. Mr. Osama Saraya of Al Ahram newspaper stated that the conflict in Iraq shed the most light on the issue of the protection of journalists in areas of armed conflict, as more than 280 journalists had been killed during the conflict. He pointed out that none of the persons guilty of killing those journalists had been brought to justice. The panellist stated that journalists were the intermediary for truth, and killing a journalist expanded the scourge and further complicated the conflict itself. In addition, he drew the attention of the Council to the fact that death was not the only result of the phenomenon of attacks against journalists, as many journalists who had worked in situations of armed conflict, including his colleagues, lived with trauma and could not function in the workplace due to physical and mental scars and injuries. The panellist also underlined that many of the current conflicts were intractable with some of them lasting for decades, which often fed terrorism and terrorist groups that imposed their own laws in the conflict zones. He therefore stressed that a firm solution must be found to such conflicts, and that news agencies intending to cover a conflict situation must factor in terrorism and organized crime as well. He also emphasized that international cooperation should prioritize technical assistance to developing countries in that field, so as to enable local journalists to do their job and to enjoy the protection by the State. Finally, the panellist expressed his continuing commitment to seek new and innovative ways to ensure the protection of journalists. 10. Mr. Omar Faruk Osman of the Federation of African Journalists provided an overview of the safety and security situation of journalists in Africa, and stated that their predicament was further complicated by the fact that they had to face not only repressive Governments, but also armed gangs and militias. He also underlined that the political will to end the culture of impunity was almost nonexistent, which in turn perpetrated crimes against journalists. He further stressed that human rights could not be guaranteed in the absence of press freedom and freedom of expression, while freedom of expression could not exist when journalists were not protected and suffered death or violence for telling the truth. Emphasizing that there were already sufficient legal standards in place, the panellist stressed that neither the Federation of African Journalists nor the International Federation of Journalists supported the notion of a new international law to agree on a press emblem. He underlined that journalists had already accepted insignia which were universally known, and thus a new emblem would do little more than raise new concerns about Governmental control over the licensing of journalists. While welcoming the adoption of Security Council resolution 1738 (2006) on the protection of journalists in armed conflict, the panellist stressed that the Human Rights Council should develop a mechanism to encourage States to transpose the resolution into their national legislation. 11. Ms. Hedayat Abdel Nabi of the Press Emblem Campaign noted that the panel discussion coincided with the sixth anniversary of the creation of the Campaign, which had been established by a group of journalists in Geneva for the protection of journalists in armed conflict and dangerous situations. Stressing the difference between journalists who were present in armed conflicts by choice, and civilians who were present in such situations by accident, the panellist underscored the need to rethink, or revise, existing rules. In that regard, she referred to ideas presented by the Press Emblem Campaign in December 2007, including, inter alia, the adoption of an internationally recognized press emblem to identify journalists; the guarantee of unhindered, unfettered and uninterrupted Internet services by the authorities concerned; the establishment of mechanisms of inquiry into attacks against journalists; the establishment of “media corridors” by parties to a conflict to protect journalists and media installation; and the establishment of a compensation fund and an 4