UNESCO: 85 percent of media killings worldwide unpunished

MANILA, Philippines — Between 2006 and 2024, over 1,700 journalists have been killed around the world, and around 85 percent of the killings remain unpunished, according to a new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The UNESCO director general’s biannual report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity was published on Saturday – the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists – and notes the persistence of a very high rate of impunity for the killings of journalists: 85 percent of the cases did not make it to court and the killings recorded by the organization since 2006 are considered unresolved.

In the UNESCO report (2022-2023), a total of 162 journalists were killed. Almost half of the deaths took place in countries experiencing armed conflict, compared with 38 percent in the previous two years (2020-2021).

In other countries, most journalists were killed for covering organized crime, corruption, or while reporting on public demonstrations. The report raised the alarming fact that the number of female journalists killed is at its highest level since 2017, with 14 killed.

According to the report, the killings of journalists rose 38 percent to 162 journalists killed. Every four days, journalists are killed for seeking the truth.

UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said the report notes the persistence of a very high rate of impunity for the killings of journalists, and “the impunity remains unacceptably high” and “States must significantly increase their efforts to deter new crimes against journalists.”

“Four years is a long time for cases to be resolved. This is the average time it takes for cases which have been resolved to get to that stage. Justice delayed is justice denied,” the report said.

Increase in killings preceded by disappearances, missing persons reports and kidnappings is at 13 killings.

The report noted an increase in deaths in custody with five killings; 2022 saw the highest killings of women journalists since 2017 with 10 killings.

Gaza has seen the highest number of killings of journalists and media workers in any war in decades.