Published on: 2026-11-02
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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November 2, 2026 Culture and Education
For the first time in a decade, the scale of impunity for the killing of journalists worldwide is once again increasing. At the same time, the use of drones is becoming an ever greater threat to reporters in conflict zones. These data are presented in UNESCO’s report on journalist safety. It is published every two years and is timed to coincide with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed on November 2.
“Journalists are increasingly paying with their lives for frontline reports, and too often those responsible for their deaths go unpunished,” said UNESCO Director-General Khaled al-Anani.
The problem of impunity
UNESCO has been monitoring the proportion of unsolved journalist murders since 2012. In 2024–2025, this figure reached 86 percent — one percentage point higher than in the previous two years. According to the organization, a total of 189 journalists and other media workers died in 2024–2025. This is 20 percent more than in the previous two-year period and the highest since 2014–2015. More than two-thirds of them — 127 people — died in conflict zones.
“Around the world, journalists continue to pay an exorbitantly high price for speaking the truth,” says the message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the occasion of the International Day. According to him, media workers play a crucial role in society, but at the same time they are often subjected to persecution and surveillance, become targets of legal prosecution and physical attacks, or end up in prison, “and sometimes they are even tortured or killed just for doing their job.”
“In the past year, at least 34 journalists have paid with their lives for this. Six out of every seven such murders go unpunished. In conflict situations, the impunity rate approaches 100 percent,” the Secretary-General noted.
“This outrageous situation must come to an end,” he emphasized. To achieve this, he said, every such case must be investigated, every culprit held accountable, and attacks on the internet put to a stop.
Global disaster
In 2024–2025, journalist murders were recorded in all regions of the world, which, according to UNESCO, makes them a global disaster.
The highest number of confirmed cases has been registered in the Arab states – 97. Next are Latin America and the Caribbean (37), the Asia-Pacific region (34), Central and Eastern Europe (14), Africa (6), Western Europe and North America (1).
Most journalists killed over two years were in the State of Palestine – 30 and 32 respectively.
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Voices Trying to Be Silenced: Women Journalists in Conflict Zones
At the same time, women continue to face particular risks both in combat zones and on the internet. Thirteen of the 14 female journalists killed in 2024–2025 were working in countries affected by armed conflicts.
Moreover, according to a 2025 study by the UN Women structure and the International Center for Journalists, 75 percent of female journalists have faced violence and harassment either online or in real life.
New technologies – new risks
The report also highlights an “alarming new threat” — the increasing use of drones to kill journalists. In 2024–2025, drone strikes have killed 50 journalists — 40 percent of all those who died in conflict zones.
Seven cases have been recorded in which several journalists died as a result of a single attack, including strikes on editorial offices and temporary press centers. According to available data, 15 journalists were killed while wearing vests labeled “Press” or when they were in vehicles with such markings.
“I once again call for compliance with Security Council Resolution 2222, unanimously adopted in 2015, concerning the protection of journalists, media workers, and associated personnel as civilians in conflict situations,” al-Anani stated.
Progress is possible
At the same time, the report also notes progress: in countries without armed conflicts, impunity continues to decline. From 2012 to 2026, this indicator decreased from 94 to 77 percent – about one percentage point per year. The number of journalists killed outside conflict zones – 85 – is the lowest in 18 years.
“This shows that when governments invest in investigations, prosecution, and the protection of journalists, progress is possible,” the UNESCO statement says.
“This concerns all of us”
According to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, more than 740 journalists and media workers were killed or went missing worldwide between 2023 and 2025. About 90 percent of those forcibly disappeared remain in custody. Türk welcomed progress in holding perpetrators accountable outside conflict zones but noted that most journalists die in war, where impunity remains the norm.
“When a journalist is persecuted or even killed, and the crime goes unpunished, it sends a clear signal: dialogue and democratic debates have ended, public interests are a formality, and authority must not be questioned. This concerns all of us,” emphasized the High Commissioner. He reminded that, according to UNESCO data, from 2012 to 2024, the level of freedom of expression worldwide has decreased by 10 percent, and called on governments to promptly and independently investigate crimes against journalists, including in conflict zones.
“On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we demand justice. When journalists become targets and their voices are silenced, we all become victims,” emphasized the UN Secretary-General.
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