62 Part II: Challenges and opportunities medical malpractice but these are generally viewed as isolated incidents and not as an institutional problem. One of the professions that have been hit the hardest is journalism. A scourge of murders, kidnappings, threats and censorship has made Sri Lanka one of the most dangerous places in the world for the press. Two journalists were killed, two more kidnapped and at least three media personnel have been victims of direct attacks during 2008. Some journalists have fled the region, and others have chosen to abandon the profession altogether. There are a number of factors contributing to this situation of insecurity for human rights defenders. These include the lack of a national witness protection act; an ineffective prosecutor’s office; a lack of general accountability and command responsibility within the police and military; the absence of a competent, impartial, and effective investigation system; and a general lack of independence within key government institutions. Remedying these inadequacies is key to increasing the protection of human rights defenders in Sri Lanka. From the standpoint of the protectors this can mainly be done through advocacy and public promotion of policy change. However, there are also a number of more practical and tangible initiatives, which can be taken by civil society actors to improve the situation. One remedy is to ensure the availability of competent, effective and independent medical examinations for victims. Such medical reports can often form a key part in proving the existence of a violation and thus might discourage perpetrators from committing violations in the future. Civil society also can promote new and support existing oversight bodies such as the Commission for Human Rights to be effective and maintain their independence. Another key protection mechanism is continuous engagement with relevant international actors. This includes liaising with global advocacy networks (e.g. Amnesty International), producing information to submit to various UN bodies and mechanisms, and submitting cases to the individual complaints mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In addition to the proposed remedies it is essential to keep a vibrant civil society based on strong networks to ensure awareness and a constant focus on protecting the protectors. Otherwise there will be no one left to protect the more vulnerable groups in society.