A total of 189 journalists lost their lives in 2024 and 2025, with the majority of fatalities occurring in conflict zones. The region with the highest number of journalist deaths was Palestine, while Mexico recorded the most cases in Latin America.
Violence against journalists has reached a concerning level in recent years, with a total of 189 journalist murders recorded globally between 2024 and 2025, representing a 20% increase from the preceding two-year period. The uptick in fatalities is largely attributed to ongoing armed conflicts, particularly in Palestine, UNESCO reported on Monday, also noting a disturbing resurgence of impunity in such cases.
A recent report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization highlights the alarming safety risks faced by journalists. The report, which details the prevalence of impunity, documented a total of 189 journalist murders over the course of two years, specifically 92 in 2024 and 97 in 2025.
A total of 127 journalists were killed in countries affected by armed conflict, accounting for 67% of all journalist fatalities. This figure underscores the severe deterioration of security conditions in war-torn regions, posing a significant threat to journalists operating in these areas.
A disturbing trend has emerged in conflict zones, where drones have been increasingly used in attacks resulting in the deaths of 50 journalists, accounting for approximately 40% of all registered victims in these areas.
As the world prepares to observe #EndImpunity Day on November 2, the issue of impunity in the killing of journalists remains a pressing concern. Despite the need for justice, those responsible for such crimes often evade accountability. To shed light on this issue, UNESCO's Tarja Turunen, will discuss the persistence of impunity and the organization's efforts to combat it.
UNESCO reported a total of seven instances in which multiple journalists were fatally targeted in a single attack, often involving bombings against media facilities. Additionally, 15 media professionals lost their lives despite being clearly identifiable as press, either by wearing press-identified attire or traveling in vehicles marked as such.
UNESCO's Deputy Director-General for Communication and Information, Mariya Gabriel, cautioned that targeted attacks on groups of journalists could be indicative of deliberate selection, a scenario that would represent a war crime under international law.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany has expressed concern over the escalating risks faced by journalists reporting from war zones, where many have lost their lives. He emphasized the need for accountability and adherence to UN Security Council resolution 2222, which aims to protect journalists and hold perpetrators of violence against them accountable for their crimes.
According to UNESCO, Palestine recorded the highest number of journalist fatalities, with a total of 62 journalists killed, comprising 30 in 2024 and 32 in 2025. Sudan ranked second, with 14 reported cases.
Latin America and the Caribbean were the second most impacted region, with a total of 37 reported murders. The majority of these incidents occurred in two consecutive years, with 14 taking place in 2024 and 23 in 2025.
Mexico reported the highest number of journalist fatalities in the region, with a total of 17 deaths, comprising seven in 2024 and 10 in 2025. This was followed by Colombia with six cases, Peru with four, and Ecuador with three.
The majority of journalists killed, accounting for 93%, lost their lives in their own country, underscoring the susceptibility of local media professionals to violent attacks.
Journalists covering armed conflicts, corruption, politics, and crime are identified as the most vulnerable group in the region, according to a recent report.
Fourteen female journalists lost their lives, with 13 of them perishing in countries experiencing armed conflict, as documented by the organization.
UNESCO has reported a concerning trend in the fight against impunity, with a notable increase in non-judicial crimes. The proportion of such crimes has risen from 85% to 86%, marking the first increase since UNESCO began tracking this metric in 2012.
A request for information on 1,358 unresolved cases was submitted to 78 countries, with 30 governments failing to respond. The countries with the highest numbers of unresolved cases included Iraq, which had 168 cases, and Mexico, with 141 cases pending clarification.
A global review of crime trends has revealed a significant decline in murder rates in countries not affected by armed conflict. The lowest level of homicides in 18 years was recorded, indicating a notable improvement in public safety. Additionally, the percentage of unpunished crimes in these regions decreased from 94% in 2012 to 77% in 2026.
UNESCO has documented a total of 1,641 journalist and media worker fatalities globally since initiating its systematic monitoring in 2006. This translates to a staggering average of one victim every four days.
