Six in seven journalist killings remain unresolved, UNESCO warns

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov2 – Impunity for the killing of journalists has risen globally for the first time since 2012, with 86 per cent of cases remaining unresolved, as the number of media workers killed increased by 20 per cent over the 2024–2025 period, a new UNESCO report shows.

The report, released on Monday to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, recorded 189 killings of journalists, media workers and social media producers engaged in journalistic activity during the two years, up from 158 in 2022–2023.

Of those killed, 127 were reporting from conflict zones, accounting for 67 per cent of the total. UNESCO said the figures represented the highest two-year death toll since 2014–2015.

The organisation warned that the growing use of military drones was introducing new dangers for journalists covering armed conflicts.

At least 50 journalists, representing 40 per cent of those killed in conflict zones, died in drone strikes during the reporting period. Across six war zones, drone attacks accounted for slightly more than a quarter of all journalist killings.

UNESCO also documented seven incidents in which multiple journalists were killed in single attacks, including strikes on media workplaces and temporary reporting centres.

Fifteen journalists were reportedly killed while wearing press vests or travelling in vehicles clearly marked as press.

“Journalists are increasingly paying with their lives for reporting from the frontlines of war, and far too often those responsible for their killings are not held accountable,” UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said.

He called for respect for UN Security Council Resolution 2222, adopted unanimously in 2015, which recognises journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians in situations of armed conflict.

The report found that the global impunity rate rose to 86 per cent from 85 per cent in the previous reporting period, reversing a gradual decline recorded over the years.

The trend contrasts with progress in countries not experiencing armed conflict, where impunity for journalist killings fell to 77 per cent in 2026, down from 94 per cent in 2012.

Journalist killings in non-conflict countries also declined, with 85 recorded during the 2024–2025 period, the lowest level in 18 years, according to the report.

UNESCO said the contrasting figures demonstrated that sustained investment in investigations, prosecutions and protection mechanisms could help reduce impunity.

Women journalists continued to face particular risks, especially in conflict zones and online. Of the 14 women journalists killed during the reporting period, 93 per cent died while covering conflicts.

The report also cited a 2025 study by UN Women and the International Center for Journalists, which found that 75 per cent of women journalists had experienced online or offline abuse and harassment.

The proportion of women who reported experiencing offline violence linked to online abuse had more than doubled, rising from 20 per cent in 2020 to over 40 per cent in 2025.

Regionally, the Arab States recorded the highest number of journalist killings, with 97 cases, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean with 37. Africa recorded six killings, down from 14 in the previous two-year reporting period.

Since UNESCO began systematically monitoring journalist killings in 2006, 1,641 journalists have been killed worldwide, an average of one every four days.

The organisation said the persistent failure to investigate and prosecute such crimes threatens press freedom and undermines the public’s right to information.