September 2000 and in November 2004. In addition, States have committed themselves to enhancing their co-operation with relevant international organizations and regional bodies in this area. In order to achieve more effective implementation of commitments, the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement should be reflected in the legislation and practice of OSCE States. 57. It is now widely recognized that freedom of movement and the right to choose one’s place of residence for IDPs means not only the right to return but the right not to return, instead opting to move somewhere else in their own country. This development is welcomed, as IDPs should not be hostages to uncertain political negotiations and expected to put their lives on hold until the conclusion of negotiations. 58. It has been recommended that States facilitate co-operation between sending and receiving countries in order to improve the conditions of migrants, first of all with regard to services, including information, documentation, and registration, as well as to take concrete steps to allow displaced persons to return home safely on a voluntary basis. Slow and insufficient efforts in this regard risk perpetuating the fate of IDPs and represent a disregard for the commitments undertaken by all participating States. While the commitments are in place, the actual use of the Guiding Principles and implementation of human dimension commitments are key to addressing existing, and preventing future, situations of internal displacement in the OSCE region. Ñ Threats to the independence of the media 59. Only if freedom of expression is exercised publicly can it underpin democratic freedoms. The media have a crucial function in this. By disseminating opinions to broad audiences, they provide the public with a platform through which this right is effectively exercised. The important role of the media confirms that democracy is more than a set of institutions; it is also a culture that cannot flourish without healthy, plural, diverse, and independent media that establish the public space to enable democratic debate. 60. OSCE States continue to face challenges with regard to the establishment of pluralistic, diverse, and independent media capable of fulfilling their democratic responsibilities. A media-friendly legal framework, the transformation of (formerly) state-owned media into independent media, and the establishment Media professionals continue to be intimidated, threatof a dual system of public-service broad- ened, physically attacked, or even killed in some OSCE casters and independent broadcasters participating States. Criminal defamation provisions, inhave yet to be established in a number cluding imprisonment, are often used in some parts of of States. New developments have con- the OSCE region beyond their legitimate function of cortributed to this challenge: the transi- recting mistaken reporting, thereby creating a chilling eftion from analogue to digital terrestri- fect on all media. The protection of journalistic sources is challenged by prosecutors and courts, thereby underal broadcasting and the safeguarding mining investigative journalism. Media still face adminof the freedom of the Internet are new istrative and bureaucratic procedures that create workchallenges that require adequate re- ing conditions incompatible with OSCE commitments for sponses in order to establish or pre- media freedom. These measures are often applied in a way that independent media are discriminated against. serve media freedom. Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation 21