Plan International - Girls' Rights Platform - Girls' rights are human rights: Positioning girls at the heart of the international agenda

A/HRC/20/17 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 4 June 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twentieth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue * Summary The present report builds on the previous work of the Special Rapporteur regarding the issue of the protection of journalists and media freedom, and focuses particularly on situations outside of armed conflict. A brief introduction is set out in Chapter I, noting that the majority of human rights violations against journalists take place outside of armed conflict situations. Chapter II provides a brief account of the main activities undertaken by the Special Rapporteur, including communications sent, participation in events, press releases issued and country visits undertaken and requested by the Special Rapporteur. Chapter III examines the challenges faced by journalists in carrying out their work, in particular when covering street protests and demonstrations or reporting on politically sensitive issues, such as human rights violations, environmental issues, corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking, public crises and emergencies. Particular challenges faced by journalists and media organizations when carrying out their work via the Internet is also highlighted. The increasing use of criminal laws to suppress media freedom is also examined, as well as the continuing problem of impunity. Emphasizing that the problem in ensuring the protection of journalists worldwide lies not in the lack of international standards, but in the inability or unwillingness of Governments to take effective measures, the report examines the issue of impunity and ways in which some States have attempted to combat this phenomenon. Chapter IV draws conclusions and provides relevant recommendations for different stakeholders, including States, United Nations agencies, regional actors and civil society. * GE.12-13787 Late submission.