A/HRC/41/41/Add.4 peaceful protests by their schools or their parents when they expressed their interest in joining them. 72. Despite the key role women played in the transition, the Special Rapporteur was particularly concerned at the low percentage of women appointed to ministerial positions and that no women had been appointed as provincial governors. 73. Independent and vibrant media plays an important role in the democratic life of a society. However, the Special Rapporteur learned that during the April events and during manifestations held in previous years, the safety of journalists and media workers covering demonstrations and protests was not properly safeguarded. It is important that during democratic transitions the independence of the media and the safety of journalists and media workers are guaranteed by the law and in practice, and that violations are duly investigated. 74. Finally, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that access to information for rural communities is important to ensure their full participation in the democratic governance of the country and essential to the success of the revolution. Armenia must support the strengthening of independent media outlets and, in particular, the promotion of community media outlets, including community radio. 4. Protests in relation to the exploitation of natural resources 75. An environment that allows for the robust exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is essential in ensuring that the exploitation of natural resources is fair, transparent and accountable and benefits communities. 76. From his meeting with the Head of the Inspectorate for Natural Protection and Mineral Resources, the Special Rapporteur discovered that a significant number of government permits granted for resource exploitation were not in compliance with the law and not a single mining project was in line with the legislation. Despite the existence of a considerable legal framework regulating this field, he is concerned at the lack of transparency in the processes carried out without adequate environmental impact assessments and the perceived corruption surrounding the granting of licences, which were highlighted as the main cause of the protests about the exploitation of natural resources. 77. The Special Rapporteur sees that there is a lot of frustration about the governance of natural resources, especially within the communities in the regions that feel directly affected by activities that are not in compliance with national legislation. In particular, after his visit to Vayk, the Special Rapporteur visited one of the sites related to the Amulsar mining project and heard the concerns of the protesters who have blocked the access to the mine. It is important that the Government ensure that communities are genuinely consulted on the social and environmental impact of the project, as well as on its benefits. 78. The Special Rapporteur notes that the activities of environmentalist human rights defenders and groups are increasing in the country, including through the use of social media and other online platforms, and that certain restrictions to their rights of freedom of assembly and association have been reported in the past years. He believes that those restrictions are counterproductive, divisive and undermine the confidence of communities in gaining access to information and their opportunities to do so, in participating in public discussions and in providing their free, prior and informed consent when the concessions for natural resource exploitation were tendered. 79. In order to reverse this situation, the Special Rapporteur believes that one of the first steps the Government should take is to carry out genuine consultations so that projects for the exploitation of natural resources align with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. 80. The Special Rapporteur strongly believes that protests related to the exploitation of natural resources should be seen as a call for the authorities to be more transparent and accountable and not as an attempt by communities to sabotage the economic growth of the country or to threaten its security. 10