The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has revealed that six out of every seven journalists killed worldwide are not brought to justice, warning that global impunity for crimes against journalists has increased for the first time in more than a decade.
According to UNESCO’s latest report, the rate of impunity rose to 86 per cent in 2024 and 2025, compared with 85 per cent in the previous two-year period. The report was released on Monday ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed on November 2.
The organisation disclosed that 189 journalists were killed globally during the two-year period, representing a 20 per cent increase compared with the previous biennium. Of the total, 127 were killed in conflict zones, with the Arab States recording the highest number of verified cases.
UNESCO Director-General, Khaled El-Enany, expressed concern over the increasing dangers faced by journalists reporting from conflict zones, noting that those responsible for their killings were often not held accountable.
The report also identified the growing use of drones as an emerging threat to journalists, revealing that drone strikes killed 50 reporters during the period, representing 40 per cent of journalist deaths in conflict zones. It further documented attacks in which journalists were killed despite wearing press identification or travelling in vehicles marked ‘Press’.
However, UNESCO noted some progress in countries not experiencing armed conflict, where impunity declined from 94 per cent in 2012 to 77 per cent in 2026. It also reported that journalist killings in non-conflict zones had dropped to their lowest level in 18 years.
The organisation called on governments to strengthen investigations, prosecute those responsible for attacks on journalists and improve protections for media professionals, particularly women who continue to face harassment and violence both online and offline.
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