Journalism is a dangerous occupation. Statistics collected by media freedom organizations show that each year dozens of media professionals are killed or injured in the course of their work. Elections are not the most dangerous part of their work - but a tense and sometimes violent campaign will carry its dangers for those trying to report honestly and accurately.
The responsibility for protecting the physical security of everyone within its territory rests with the government, which has a particular obligation in relation to the media. It was in recognition of this that the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights resolved:
[T]he World Conference encourages the increased involvement of the media, for whom freedom and protection should be guaranteed within the framework of national law.36
See Measures to Protect Journalists.
