A/HRC/RES/56/7 central components of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as reflected in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and that obstacles to access to information can undermine the enjoyment of civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights, Recognizing also that the effective exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is an important indicator of the level of protection of other human rights and freedoms, bearing in mind that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, both online and offline, and affirming that the same rights that individuals have offline must also be protected online, Acknowledging that the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art or through any other media, is an enabler for the enjoyment of all human rights and for sustainable development, and that the exercise of this right facilitates the realization of a range of other human rights, Underlining the mutually reinforcing nature of democracy, the rule of law and the right to freedom of opinion and expression, which is integral to media freedom, and recognizing that the right constitutes one of the essential foundations of democratic societies, as it enables the public to seek and receive information and ideas, make well-informed choices and decisions in all areas of life in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres, participate in public affairs, and make a positive contribution to the well-being of society, Recognizing the potential of online communication tools to promote freedom of expression and expand political participation, and to empower persons who belong to underrepresented groups and those who are marginalized, including but not limited to groups mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization,2 and urging States to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe, enabling and inclusive environment for journalists and other media workers, online and offline, to perform their work independently and without undue interference, Deeply concerned that violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression continue to occur, often with impunity, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, torture, persecution and harassment, threats and acts of violence and of discrimination, including gender-based violence and discrimination, and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, online and offline, increased abuse of legal provisions on defamation and criminal libel as well as on surveillance, search and seizure, and censorship against persons who exercise, seek to promote or defend these rights, and are facilitated and aggravated by the abuse of states of emergency, Deeply concerned also about acts of violence particularly directed against journalists and other media workers in situations of armed conflict, Acknowledging the essential role of, inter alia, journalists and other media workers and human rights defenders in the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and in this context expressing alarm at the continued violations and abuses of the right to freedom of opinion and expression facing them, including increased attacks directed against and killings of journalists and other media workers, including women journalists and journalists reporting on conflict situations, environmental and climate issues, as well as human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders and environmental human rights defenders, Taking into account that journalists and other media workers may face specific risks in relation to their work owing to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, Emphasizing that uncensored and unhindered news media and the ability of journalists to work safely and without fear are not only integral to the right to freedom of opinion and expression but also key to addressing misinformation and disinformation, including in situation of crisis or armed conflict, and that journalists and other media workers should be 2 2 A/78/260.