A new report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (U.N.E.S.C.O.) has determined that a journalist has been killed every four days between 2022 through 2023, with most casualties occurring in countries experiencing armed conflict, high crime, corruption, or public demonstrations. Recently, the killing of journalists worldwide has been drastically rising, with a 38% increase in journalist deaths in 2022-2023, compared to the previous two-year period from 2020-2021. Furthermore, 85% of killings remain unpunished according to the report.
According to Audrey Azoulay, the U.N.E.S.C.O. Director General, “In 2022 and 2023, a journalist was killed every four days simply for doing their vital job to pursue truth. For many 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.” Alongside the Director General, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on governments to “take urgent steps” to protect journalists and investigate matters of the state, and that “impunity breeds further violence.”
Al Jazeera, in parallel, stated that “Israel’s war on Gaza has become the world’s deadliest conflict for journalists and media workers,” and that it “[constitutes] a calculated campaign to silence those who dare to document the realities of war and devastation.” Indeed, Israeli military operations in Gaza have led to a large number of journalist deaths. Fadi al-Wahidi, an Al Jazeera journalist, was recently shot and unable to receive proper care, hindered by Israeli troops. Since October 7th, 2023, over one hundred Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza.
Most governments are not coming forward to claim responsibility for the death of journalists and media reporters. Governments need to put an end to impunity, as most cases are being dismissed or abandoned entirely. Journalists are crucial and report vital information to the world about the insides of conflicts and issues alike. The founder of Global Journalist Security, Frank Smyth, voiced that “journalists are the only independent monitors that are available to document what is happening on the ground no matter who is committing abuses.” Protections are in order for these journalists worldwide. It is consequential to document what is truly going on around the world through objective eyes and not solely those of governments. Their lives must be protected in the same manner that every human life should be valued. Additionally, democracy can be measured by the amount of press freedom within a state. The U.N. has officially named November 2nd to be End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in honor of all the lives lost.
The report by U.N.E.S.C.O. stated that 162 journalists were killed in 2022-2023. The largest number of killings were reported to have taken place in Latin America, and the least reported in North America and the European region. Journalists entering conflict zones are experiencing neglect from governmental bodies and are left for dead. All lives matter and further protections for journalists are needed. Lives being unreported and dismissed does not lead to peaceful solutions. Governments taking responsibility for deaths is the first step in implementing greater protection for journalists. Ultimately, journalists must reserve the right to work safely in order to provide vital information to the global community. This U.N.E.S.C.O. report symbolizes the critical need for journalist protection and peaceful processes.
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