What Led To The Killing Of 68 Journalists?

About 68 journalists have laid down their lives in the course this year, essentially on the line of duty and the cause of such deaths is now known.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says for the second consecutive year, conflict zones have proven dangerous for media workers.

It says 2024 has seen the death of at least 68 media men in the line of duty.

A data released by the agency, says more than 60 per cent of these killings were in countries in conflict situation, naming the conflict locations as Ukraine, Colombia, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, Palestine and Sudan.

Conflict therefore accounted for the highest number of such deaths in over a decade, according to UNESCO new data.

It is unacceptable that journalists pay with their lives for this work, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay

Reacting to the situation, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, “It is unacceptable that journalists pay with their lives for this work.

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“I call on all states to step up and ensure the protection of media workers, in accordance with international law,” she added.

42 journalists reportedly died in conflict theatres this year, Palestine alone, accounting for 18

“Overall, the killings of journalists and media workers (68) decreased compared to 2023 (74) and 2022 (88), although several cases are still being verified by UNESCO, in line with its working method.

“The decrease was notably driven by a drop in the numbers of journalists killed outside of countries in conflict, with 26 deaths. This was the lowest total in sixteen years”, the report added.

According to UNESCO, the trend suggests that progress may have been made in some non-conflict countries in fighting attacks against reporters for their reporting in peacetime, which peaked in 2022 with sixty killings.

This was especially the case in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 12 killings in 2024 compared with 18 in 2023 and 43 in 2022, UNESCO informs.

It says, its figures are based upon the cases recorded by leading international press freedom organizations, and do not include journalists dying in circumstances believed to be unrelated to their profession.

On its efforts to protect media people, the report said: “UNESCO has the United Nations mandate to support freedom of expression and the protection of journalists.

“The Organization coordinates the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

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“It systematically condemns and monitors judicial follow up to every journalist killing.

“UNESCO also trains journalists, judicial actors and security forces, works with governments to develop supportive policies and laws, and raises global awareness through events such as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (2 November) and World Press Freedom Day (3 May)”.