Follow Al Rai
In a report published on Monday, marking the "International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists," UNESCO warned of rising rates of impunity in cases involving the killing of journalists for the first time since 2012.
The report stated that "the global rate of impunity for crimes against journalists rose by one percentage point this year to reach 86%."
This rate had been in steady decline since 2012, having fallen from a peak of 95% to 85% in 2024.
The term "impunity" covers cases of murder where investigations have not led to results, or cases where investigations remain ongoing.
This means that six out of every seven perpetrators of crimes against journalists escape justice.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Maria Gabriel told journalists that "investigations and prosecutions regarding the killing of journalists in war zones remain insufficient."
She explained that the international organization "is not a court," but works to "exert pressure to achieve justice."
The biennial report recorded the killing of 189 journalists, media workers, and social media content creators during 2024 and 2025, including 14 women.
This two-year period is considered the deadliest for journalists in the past decade.
Two-thirds of these (67%) were killed in conflict zones, such as the Palestinian territories, Yemen, and Ukraine. Gabriel pointed out that "this represents a major shift in the global landscape of risks faced by journalists."
Furthermore, UNESCO highlighted the increasing use of "unmanned aerial vehicles" (drones), which accounted for 26% of total deaths during 2024 and 2025.
The report noted that "the State of Palestine once again recorded the highest number of cases" in 2025, "with at least 32 murders."
In addition, the organization noted that journalists continue to be killed inside their homes or while wearing jackets identifying their profession.
The total number of journalists killed worldwide since 2006, the year UNESCO began monitoring, reached 1,641, averaging one death every four days.
Some figures in the UNESCO report differ from those published by the "Committee to Protect Journalists" or "Reporters Without Borders."
UNESCO attributes this to the "difficulty of assessing the circumstances of death at times, given the constantly changing nature of conflicts."
Know more about this story?Send us a tip
Ask about this report — answers stay grounded in its text.
