World · Africa · 2 hrs ago
UNESCO says most crimes against journalists go unpunished
UNESCO says nine in 10 killings of journalists go unpunished worldwide.
Its report says 189 journalists and media workers were killed in 2024–25, 20 per cent more than in the previous two-year period.
More than 1,700 reporters have been killed globally since 1993, according to the agency.
The Middle East had the most deaths in the latest period, with 97 journalists killed, many in connection with the war in Gaza.
Journalists also face threats such as kidnapping, physical attacks and online harassment, which can limit the flow of information to the public.
Russia’s mission to UNESCO says the report omits some journalists killed and disputes how the agency selected its data.
UNESCO is calling for greater accountability and protection for journalists, but the report does not set out specific next steps.
UNESCO says nine out of 10 cases of journalists killed go unpunished.
Its report says more than 1,700 journalists have been killed worldwide since 1993.
It records 189 journalists and other media workers killed from 2024 to 2025, 20 per cent more than in the previous two-year period.
The Russian mission to UNESCO says the report excludes journalists killed according to Russian data and criticises its methodology.
UNESCO says journalists face threats including physical attacks, harassment and killings in conflict zones.
- Who
- UNESCO issued the report; Russia’s mission to UNESCO criticised it.
- What
- UNESCO said most killings of journalists go unpunished. Russia’s mission said the report left out deaths reported by Russia.
- When
- The report was released on November 2, 2026.
- Where
- The report covers journalists killed worldwide.
- Why
- UNESCO highlighted impunity and threats to journalists. Russia’s mission said the report’s methodology and omissions undermined its accuracy.
UNESCO
Russia’s mission to UNESCO
Report figures
UNESCO
UNESCO said 189 journalists and other media workers were killed from 2024 to 2025, and nine out of 10 cases went unpunished.
Russia’s mission to UNESCO
Russia’s mission said journalists killed according to Russian data were missing from the report’s lists and statistics.
Methodology
UNESCO
UNESCO presented its report on journalist safety and the danger of impunity.
Russia’s mission to UNESCO
Russia’s mission criticised how the secretariat selected information and called for the methodology to be reviewed with member states.
Two Radio France International journalists were assassinated in Mali; the date was later chosen for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
UNESCO’s report recorded 189 journalists killed, including 127 in zones of combat operations.
UNESCO released its report on the safety of journalists and the danger of impunity.
Russia’s mission to UNESCO criticised the report’s data and methodology.
- Journalists killed since 1993
- More than 1,700
- Cases going unpunished
- 9 out of 10
- Deaths in 2024 to 2025
- 189 journalists and other media workers
- Deaths in combat zones
- 127
- Deaths attributed to drone attacks
- 40% of deaths in the report’s period
- Top reported death tolls
- Palestine: 62; Mexico: 17; Sudan: 14
4 sources
What people are saying
We regret to note that the Secretary General’s report prepared by the Secretariat to the Intergovernmental Council of the International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC) has once again failed to uphold UNESCO’s values.
There is no statute of limitations for crimes against journalists.
Russia will spare no effort to ensure that all killed journalists are properly accounted for in UNESCO’s statistics and that their murders are duly condemned.