Eighty-six journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2022 - one every four days, according to UNESCO data, highlighting the serious risks and vulnerabilities journalists continue to face in the course of their work.
"After several years of consecutive decreases, the sharp rise in the number of journalists killed in 2022 is alarming. The authorities must step up their efforts to stop these crimes and ensure that perpetrators are punished, because indifference is a major factor in this climate of violence," said Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO.
The spike in murders in 2022 marks a dramatic reversal of the positive trend of recent years: from 99 murders in 2018, the number had fallen to an average of 58 murders per year from 2019-2021, according to the UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists. These figures are a reminder of the growing cracks in rule-of-law systems worldwide, and highlight the failure of states to fulfil their obligations to protect journalists and prevent and prosecute crimes against them.
Although every region was affected, Latin America and the Caribbean were the deadliest for journalists in 2022 with 44 murders, more than half of all murders worldwide. Asia and the Pacific saw 16 murders and Eastern Europe 11. The deadliest individual countries were Mexico (19 murders), Ukraine (10) and Haiti (9).
Half of journalists killed off duty
About half of the journalists killed were off-duty at the time they were targeted - travelling, at home or in car parks and other public places where they were not on assignment. This is a continuation of a trend in recent years and means there are no safe places for journalists, even in their spare time.
While the number of journalists killed in conflict-affected countries rose to 23 in 2022 from 20 the previous year, the global increase was mainly driven by killings in non-conflict countries. This number almost doubled from 35 cases in 2021 to 61 in 2022, or three-quarters of all killings last year.
These journalists were killed for various reasons, including reprisals for reporting on organised crime, armed conflict or the rise of extremism, and covering sensitive issues such as corruption, environmental crimes, abuse of power and protests.
Impunity remains stubbornly high
Although some progress has been made over the past five years, impunity for murders of journalists with 86% remains shockingly high, discouraging the work of journalists and jeopardising freedom of expression worldwide. This proves that fighting impunity remains an urgent imperative for which international cooperation must be further mobilised.
Besides killings, journalists continue to be threatened with various forms of violence, including enforced disappearance, kidnapping and arbitrary detention, legal harassment and digital violence, especially against female journalists.
UNESCO's World Trends in Freedom of Expression Report 2021/2022 highlights these challenges and points to the weaponisation of libel laws, cyber laws and legislation against "fake news", which is sometimes applied as a means of restricting freedom of expression.
More on UNESCO's action to protect journalists
UNESCO is the United Nations agency with a mandate to ensure freedom of expression and the safety of journalists around the world. It coordinates the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Problem of Impunity, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year with a global conference in Vienna, Austria.
The organisation condemns and follows up judicially on every murder of a journalist. It also trains journalists and the judiciary, works with governments to develop supportive policies and legislation, and raises global awareness through events such as the World Press Freedom Day (3 May) and the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (2 November) held annually.
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