United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged governments across the world to protect journalists and ensure justice for crimes committed against media professionals, warning that impunity threatens democracy and fuels further violence.
In a statement marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Guterres said journalists continue to face escalating dangers, including verbal abuse, legal intimidation, physical attacks, imprisonment, torture and even death, in their efforts to report the truth.
He noted that nearly 90 per cent of journalist killings around the world remain unresolved, describing this as a grave injustice to victims and their families, and a direct assault on press freedom.
“Gaza has been the deadliest place for journalists in any conflict,” Guterres said, calling for independent and impartial investigations into the killing of journalists in the region.
The UN chief stressed that impunity for such crimes encourages further violence and undermines democratic values. He called on all governments to investigate every attack on journalists and prosecute those responsible.
He also highlighted the rising levels of online abuse faced by women journalists, which often goes unpunished and can lead to real-world harm. Guterres said digital platforms must be made safe for media workers who gather and report the news.
“When journalists are silenced, we all lose our voice,” he said, urging global solidarity in defending press freedom and protecting those who speak truth to power.
Guterres called on all nations and societies to stand together in demanding accountability and ensuring that journalists can carry out their work freely and without fear.
The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is a UN-recognized international day observed annually on 2 November.
This day highlights the persistently high level of impunity for crimes committed against journalists worldwide.
Since 1993, more than 1,700 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public.
In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished, according to the UNESCO observatory of killed journalists.
