The number of journalists murdered worldwide rose significantly in 2022, following a decline in the previous three years, according to the United Nations culture agency UNESCO.
In the Freedom of Expression Report 2021-2022 In a recently published report, UNESCO noted the deaths of 86 journalists last year, representing one every four days, compared to 55 murders in 2021.
The findings highlight the serious risks and vulnerabilities that journalists continue to face in the course of their work, the agency said.
"Authorities must redouble their efforts to stop these crimes and ensure that their perpetrators are punished because indifference is a major factor in this climate of violence," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, describing the findings as "alarming."
no safe spaces
UNESCO noted that nearly half of the journalists killed were attacked while off duty; some of them while traveling, or in parking lots or other public places where they were not assigned, while others were at home at the time of their murder.
The report warned that this means that "there are no safe spaces for journalists, even in their free time."
Despite progress over the past five years, the impunity rate for journalist murders remains "shockingly high" at 86 percent, the organization said, noting that combating impunity remains an urgent commitment in which international cooperation must be further mobilized.
In addition to being killed, journalists in 2022 were also victims of other forms of violence, including enforced disappearances, kidnappings, arbitrary detentions, legal harassment and digital violence, particularly against women.
The UNESCO study highlighted the challenges for journalists, noting that the militarization of defamation laws, cyber laws and anti-"fake news" legislation are being used as a means to limit freedom of expression and create a toxic environment for journalists to operate.
Mexico is the deadliest country for journalists
UNESCO noted that Latin America and the Caribbean were the deadliest countries for journalists in 2022, with 44 murders, more than half of all those killed worldwide.
The agency said the deadliest countries were Mexico, with 19 murders, Ukraine with 10 and Haiti with nine. Asia and the Pacific recorded 16 murders, while 11 were killed in Eastern Europe.
While the number of journalists killed in countries in conflict rose to 23 in 2022, up from 20 the previous year, the global increase was mainly due to killings in countries not in conflict. This number almost doubled from 35 cases in 2021 to 61 in 2022, accounting for three-quarters of all killings last year.
Some of the reasons journalists were killed were due to reprisals for reporting on organised crime, armed conflict or the rise of extremism. Others were killed for covering sensitive issues such as corruption, environmental crimes, abuse of power and protests, UNESCO said.
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