“Sound， bold and independent” journalism is vital in any democratic society， the United Nations human rights chief declared today， stressing the need to ensure the safety of media workers， who have come under increasing attacks， harassment and intimidation over the past few years.

“The safety of journalists is quite simply essential to the civil， political， economic， social and cultural rights of all of us， as well as to the right to development，” High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said during a panel discussion on the issue held in Geneva.

She noted， however， that in recent years， journalists and other media workers are increasingly being targeted with violence. More than a thousand journalists have been killed since 1992 as a direct result of their profession. Also， 2012 and 2013 were among the deadliest years ever， and at least 15 have been killed since the start of this year.

“In many States， the perpetrators of these attacks could virtually count on impunity，” she said.

Many more journalists have faced violence， harassment and intimidation， including abduction， arbitrary detention， enforced disappearance， expulsion， illegal surveillance， torture and other cruel， inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment， and sexual violence against women journalists.