From August 2023 to May 2025, UNESCO documented 163 cases of journalist killings. Among them, 109 media representatives, including 12 women, were killed in conflict zones, with the highest number of casualties recorded in Gaza (46), Sudan (13), and Ukraine (8).
Journalist killings occur not only in conflict zones but also in peaceful countries. For example, the situation in Mexico is more dangerous than in most conflict regions, where 15 media workers were killed during the specified period. The highest number of journalist killings was recorded in Arab countries (82 cases), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (34), Africa (5), the Asia-Pacific region (30), and Europe with North America (12).
The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists was established by the UN General Assembly in 2013 and is observed on November 2. This date was chosen in memory of two French journalists who were killed in Mali in 2013. This day serves as a reminder that impunity for violence against journalists threatens freedom of speech, democracy, and the public's right to receive truthful information.
The level of impunity for crimes against journalists remains extremely high worldwide.
UNESCO reports that the highest level of impunity is observed in the Middle East and North Africa, followed by the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. The high level of impunity in these regions is attributed to the weakness of law enforcement and judicial systems, corruption, lack of political will, and connections between politicians, businessmen, and organized crime.
According to the organization "Reporters Without Borders," from 2023 to 2025, at least 1,163 journalists were detained worldwide, with 568 of them still under arrest in 48 countries. Almost half of all cases of journalists being imprisoned occur in five countries: Belarus, China, Israel, Myanmar, and Russia.
