UNESCO Reports Over 1,600 Journalists Killed Worldwide in Past Two Decades
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reported that over 1,600 journalists have lost their lives worldwide from 2006 to 2025. According to the report, 189 journalists were killed in violent attacks during 2024 and 2025, with 50 of them dying in drone strikes across six war zones. This highlights emerging technology-based threats that severely endanger journalists’ safety.
UNESCO warned that the impunity rate for crimes against journalists is approximately 85%, with almost six out of every seven journalist killings remaining without judicial follow-up. This impunity fosters the recurrence of such crimes and signals the weakening of legal and judicial systems in many countries. The organization expressed deep concern over the widespread damage this impunity causes to society.
UNESCO emphasized that impunity not only violates human rights but also conceals corruption and other crimes, threatening the well-being of entire communities. The agency has called on governments, civil society organizations, and media outlets to join global efforts to end this impunity.
However, UNESCO also pointed to progress made in some countries to enhance accountability for crimes against journalists. In countries not involved in armed conflicts, journalist killings have dropped to 62—the lowest number in 18 years. Additionally, the impunity rate in these regions has decreased from 92% in 2012 to 77%.
Recently, UNESCO launched a campaign under the slogan “Threats Change, but Impunity Remains” aimed at drawing attention to emerging threats against journalists and the urgent need to implement accountability mechanisms, especially in war-torn areas.
