85% of crimes against journalists go unpunished, UN rights chief warns

The vast majority of crimes committed against journalists worldwide remain unpunished, UN Human Rights Council President Omar Zniber warned Tuesday, calling the 85% impunity rate “unacceptable” amid rising violence against media workers.

Speaking via video message at a Geneva panel discussion on journalist safety, Zniber revealed that 61 journalists have been killed in 2024 alone, following 71 deaths in 2023. More than 300 journalists are currently imprisoned, with many others facing daily physical or online harassment.

“These figures are perhaps even lower than what the reality is,” Zniber said at the event, jointly organized by the UN human rights office and UNESCO. “Criminal attacks on journalists have regrettably become a day-to-day reality.”

The ongoing global conflicts have intensified the risks for media workers, with UNESCO data showing that more than half of journalist killings in 2023 occurred in conflict zones.

Environmental reporting has proven particularly dangerous, with at least 749 journalists and media outlets covering environmental issues facing attacks or intimidation between 2009 and 2023.

The panel discussion aimed to examine both the safety challenges journalists face during crises and emergencies, and the legal factors contributing to widespread impunity. Zniber urged that the Human Rights Council must strengthen its commitment to protecting journalists’ rights and addressing the systemic failure to prosecute perpetrators.

“This is an urgent, vital need and the council should focus on this and play a full protective role to protect the rights of journalists,” Zniber emphasised.

The stark warnings come as press freedom organisations continue to document rising threats to journalist safety and media independence worldwide, highlighting the growing challenges facing those who report on conflicts, corruption, and environmental issues.