35. Journalists must have the necessary freedom to exercise their profession. Ms. Bedoya indicated by way of example that it is not possible to do investigative journalism with a police officer by their side. 36. In this case, the attacks on Ms. Bedoya's rights occurred in the context of an internal armed conflict and while she was investigating events that affected relations between the government and the paramilitary groups. Subsequently, Ms. Bedoya, in the course of another investigation, was kidnapped by a guerrilla group. In her statements, she has indicated that over more than twenty years of practicing journalism, she has been continuously subjected to surveillance and attacks, demonstrating that being a woman journalist in Colombia is an extremely dangerous profession. 37. Today, there are new ways of attacking women journalists. Violence is exercised against them online through smear campaigns and false accusations, all aimed at intimidating, silencing, and shutting up voices that are essential to society. This type of violence must be addressed through adequate and effective responses. 23 38. The perspective and the story that a woman contributes to the democratic debate are essential for the rule of law. The different forms of violence against them tend to impoverish the public debate by silencing their voices. Such violence also amounts to a violation of the social dimension of the right to freedom of expression and access to information. 39. In this case, the State of Colombia failed to comply and fell short in its duties to prevent, protect, and seek justice. 40. Clearly, in the process of investigating the facts, it did not act with due diligence; Ms. Bedoya was revictimized through multiple interrogations, and institutional violence was exercised by the State. The masterminds have gone unpunished. 41. This judgment is, on the one hand, the verification and consequent declaration of the international responsibility of the State of Colombia and provides measures of reparation that tend to encourage actions and policies aimed at preventing repetition of facts like the ones presented in this case. 23 See in this regard: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375136 10