Baghdad: A recent report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has revealed alarming statistics on the safety of journalists worldwide, indicating that one journalist is killed every four days. This report was released in conjunction with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists and highlights the perilous conditions journalists face globally.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, UNESCO’s report detailed the verification of 162 journalist killings across 2022 and 2023. The report underscored that over half of these fatalities occurred in nations experiencing armed conflict, with most journalists being killed within their own countries. Moreover, the report highlighted that journalists in non-conflict zones were often targeted due to their work on organized crime, corruption, or during protest coverage.

The analysis further revealed a stark 38% increase in journalist killings compared to the previous two years, which recorded 117 ca
ses. This two-year span marks the highest number of journalist deaths since the years 2016 and 2017. In 2022, Mexico was identified as having the highest number of journalist killings, with 19 recorded cases. However, in 2023, the Palestinian territories surpassed this, registering 24 journalist deaths, the highest globally for that year.

The UNESCO report also pointed out that Latin America and the Caribbean, along with Arab countries, remain the regions with the highest incidences of journalist killings. The findings underscore the ongoing risks faced by journalists in these areas and highlight the critical need for enhanced safety measures and accountability.