II. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, A PILLAR OF THE RULE OF LAW 4. The judgment establishes in its paragraphs 107 and following that the State is internationally responsible for the violation of Ms. Bedoya's right to freedom of thought and expression, enshrined in Article 13 of the Convention. It is noted that “the provision protects the right to seek and receive ideas and information of all kinds, as well as to know and receive information and ideas disseminated by others.” 5. It has also noted that freedom of expression includes two dimensions: an individual dimension and a social dimension. Specifically, as regards the professional exercise of journalism, “it cannot be differentiated from freedom of expression. On the contrary, both are obviously intertwined, for the professional journalist is not, nor can he be, anything but someone who has decided to exercise freedom of expression in a continuous, regular and paid manner.” 6. For this reason, when analyzing the scope of the right to freedom of expression, its recognition establishes for the State the positive obligation to guarantee its free exercise, amounting to an obligation to prevent violence against journalists and "protect those who are at special risk due to the exercise of their profession and to investigate, prosecute, and punish, with due diligence, those responsible for these acts of violence." 1 7. The intimidating and chilling effect of constant threats to journalists harms democratic society. In this regard, the RELE has indicated in its report “Silenced Zones” that “impunity has a strong chilling effect on the exercise of freedom of expression, and its consequences for democracy—which depends on the free, open and dynamic exchange of ideas and information—are particularly serious.” 2 Also, IFEX indicated in its Amicus Curiae brief that “The aspects silenced by this intimidating effect include reporting on other violence, including the violence itself against the press, generating a cycle of impunity (...) Impunity for attacks on journalists has a chilling effect on the victims and society. The fear of these persons is 1 Testimony of Dr. Catalina Botero. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, “Silenced Zones: Highly Dangerous Areas for the Exercise of Freedom of Expression,” pg. 12. 2 2