In 2021, the number of killed female journalists rose by 11 per cent; UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has condemned the continuous killing of journalists without consequence, deeming it unacceptable.
On Wednesday, in its report released on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the agency said unresolved deaths of journalists remain at 86 per cent, adding that the global immunity rate for journalist killings remains “shockingly high" and that the number of female journalists killed had risen in the past year.
“Impunity for killings of journalists remains unacceptably high at 86 per cent,” the agency added. "The last year we have also seen the number of killed women journalists rising from 6-11 per cent of the total, a worrying trend continuing this year."
The report noted the death of 117 journalists between 2020 and 2021, with several killed gruesomely in front of their family members.
"Of the 117 journalists killed in 2020-21, 91 or 78 per cent were killed while off the clock, for example, at home, in their vehicles or in the street but not on specific assignment. Several were killed in front of family members, including their children," the report said.
UNESCO has called for strong measures to guarantee that such violations against members of the press are thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators are identified and punished.
“Governments should ensure that all necessary measures to ensure that crimes committed against journalists are properly investigated and their perpetrators identified and convicted."
“Freedom of expression cannot be protected when there is such a staggering number of unresolved cases,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Ms Azoulay emphasised that the lack of punishments for violations against journalists had a “chilling effect on investigative reporting.”