‘A journalist was killed every four days for doing their job’ – UNESCO
Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed – UNESCO Constitution, 1945
UNESCO
More than 1 700 journalists have been killed around the world between 2006 and 2024, with close to nine out of 10 cases of these killings remaining judicially unresolved, according to the UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists.
Impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems.
UNESCO is concerned that impunity damages whole societies by covering up serious human rights abuses, corruption, and crime. Governments, civil society, the media, and everyone concerned to uphold the rule of law are being asked to join in the global efforts to end impunity.
It is in recognition of the far-reaching consequences of impunity, especially of crimes against journalists, that the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/68/163 at its 68th session in 2013 which proclaimed 2 November as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI). The Resolution urged Member States to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity.
The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of Claude Verlon and Ghislaine Dupont, two French journalists, in Mali on 2 November 2013.
On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, UNESCO calls on all states to act on their commitments to end impunity for killing journalists. According to a new UNESCO report, the impunity level is still shockingly high, at 85%, down only 4 points in six years.
‘In 2022 and 2023, a journalist was killed every four days simply for doing their vital job to pursue truth. For the vast majority of these cases, no-one will ever be held to account. I call upon all our Member States to do more to ensure that these crimes never go unpunished. Prosecuting and convicting the perpetrators is a major lever to prevent future attacks on journalists,’ says Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.
UNESCO’s new report notes the persistence of a very high rate of impunity for the killings of journalists: 85% of all killings recorded by the Organisation since 2006 are considered unresolved. While UNESCO notes an improving trend – the rate was 89% six years ago and 95% 12 years ago – States must significantly increase their efforts to deter new crimes against journalists.
Killings of women journalists highest in 7 years
In the biennium covered by 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% in the previous two years (2020-2021).
In other countries, most journalists were killed for covering organised crime, corruption, or while reporting on public demonstrations. The report moreover raises the alarming fact that the number of female journalists killed is at its highest level since 2017, with 14 killed.
To advance advocacy against impunity, UNESCO today launches its annual campaign to raise awareness of the issue of impunity. This year’s theme is ‘There’s a story behind the story‘
On 6 November, UNESCO is holding a global conference on Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies with the African Union in Addis Ababa. UNESCO will present its Global Repository of National Safety Mechanisms for Journalists, which consists of 56 national mechanisms for the protection of journalists and at least 12 national action plans.
UNESCO will also publish a guide for psychologists working with journalists in emergency situations in partnership with the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF). It is designed to provide psychologists with practical tools to offer immediate psychological support during crises, with a particular focus on the needs of women journalists.
The goal is to stabilise emotional and cognitive processes disrupted by traumatic events, enabling journalists to make rational decisions critical for their survival while minimizing impulsive actions that could place them at greater risk.
The Organisation is also organizing dozens of other dedicated events around the world.
- The full title of the report is ‘Journalists at the frontlines of crises and emergencies: highlights of the UNESCO Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity published on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024’
