Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions 5.2. CHALLENGES TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION There are a number of factors that can undermine the independence, reliability and diversity of the media, including: • Government regulation of print and broadcast media • Government licensing requirements for print and broadcast media and, in some cases, licensing requirements for journalists • Threats to or limited protection of sources of information • Restrictive censorship and defamation laws • Violence, intimidation abduction and murder of journalists by powerful forces and the targeting of journalists reporting in conflict situations • The growing concentration of media ownership. As more and more people search for news or contribute information online, governments may also seek to block public access to certain websites or track individuals who post political material on social media or blogs. These factors not only severely impede freedom of expression; they can also have a “chilling effect” on journalists and others. The threat of repercussions for publishing or broadcasting a particular story has the potential to lead journalists to “self-censor” or avoid covering certain topics altogether. This has direct consequences for the strength of public discourse and the ability of the media to hold decision-makers to account. NHRIs can play a leading role to promote and defend freedom of expression and freedom of information. They can use their mandate to draw on international human rights standards in order to challenge laws, policies and practices that undermine the independence of the media and the ability of journalists to carry out their work. Gaza Journalists by Al Jazeera English is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. 70 | Chapter 5: Supporting journalists in their work