A/HRC/19/55 result of a multilayered analysis which has unfolded different elements of the communications sent, including the activities of the alleged victims, the reported violations suffered, the alleged perpetrators thereof and certain regional patterns. 1. (a) Journalists and media workers International human rights framework and approach of the mandate holder 29. The right to freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information are contained in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This right is also enshrined in article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as in several regional conventions and charters. 30. Regarding the limitations on freedom of expression, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression has reiterated that the justification of protection of other rights must not be used to protect the State and its officials from public opinion or criticism and that no criminal or civil action for defamation should be admissible in respect of a civil servant or the performance of his or her duties (A/HRC/14/23, para. 82). 31. The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders also seeks to protect the monitoring and advocacy functions of journalists and media workers defenders by recognizing in its article 6 their right to obtain and disseminate information relevant to the enjoyment of human rights. 32. The mandate holder has stated on various occasions that, although many professional activities do not involve human rights work all of the time, they can have occasional links to the defence of human rights. In this regard, journalists and media workers can be considered as human rights defenders when, through their activities, they promote human rights in general and strive to protect the rights of others. The mandate holder has also frequently underlined the important role of journalists and media workers in the promotion and protection of human rights. On the one hand, their work can help protect people when their lives or rights are threatened or whose work is being unduly hindered. On the other hand, journalists and media workers have the means to effectively raise awareness about the work of defenders and the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. 33. Today, journalists and media workers can employ a wide array of means of communication, including printed media, radio, television, Internet, social media and other communication technologies in order to report on human rights issues. Moreover, technologies that were once exclusively used by a limited number of professionals are now widely available. People all over the world without formal media qualifications are, in certain instances, playing a key role in the gathering and dissemination of essential information for the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 34. Because of the potential impact on society that journalists and media workers can have by disseminating information about human rights through a wide array of media, those individuals are often threatened, wounded and killed in an attempt to silence their voices. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur is alarmed at the increase in the number of communications sent by the mandate holder between 2007 and 2011 concerning attacks, attempted killings and killings of journalists and media workers while performing their duties. (b) Activities, risks and challenges faced by journalists and media workers 35. Between 2007 and May 2011, the Special Rapporteur sent 206 communications, including urgent appeals and allegation letters, on journalists and media workers who act as human rights defenders. These communications were sent to 67 States, and, at the time of 7