Intensified attacks, new Defences: developments in the fight to protect journalists and end impunity

UNESCO

The period between 2014 through the end of 2018 has seen 495 journalists killed,  according to  UNESCO  data,  which represents an  18%  increase in the number of killings as compared to the preceding 5-year period (2009-2013). Based on the number of killings,  the most dangerous regions for journalists are the Arab States region, the Latin America and Caribbean region and the Asia and the Pacific region. Across all regions, the vast majority of killings were of local journalists, rather than foreign reporters. The five-year period saw an inversion in the proportion of journalists being killed outside of conflict zones. While in  2014  a  majority of journalist killings occurred in conflict regions,  in  2017  and  2018  more killings  (55%  in both years)  occurred outside conflict regions. This trend reflects the changing nature of violence against journalists, who were increasingly silenced for reporting on issues of corruption,  crime and politics. Although the vast majority of journalists killed are men, killings of women journalists almost doubled relative to the previous  5-year  period  (24 female journalists were killed in 2009-2013, compared to 46 in 2014-2018).

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