WORLD – Impunity for crimes against journalists has increased globally, with 86% of journalist killings remaining judicially unresolved, according to UNESCO's 2026 Director-General's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, released on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2.
For the first time since UNESCO began measuring global impunity in 2012, the rate has risen by one percentage point, leaving nearly nine out of ten killings without judicial resolution.
In 2024 and 2025 alone, 189 journalists were killed in violent attacks worldwide, with 67% of the killings occurring in conflict zones. Among them, 50 journalists were killed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, across six war zones, highlighting the growing role of emerging technologies in attacks against media professionals.
UNESCO warned that new technologies and weapons are changing the nature of threats against journalists, while accountability remains limited. Women journalists face additional risks, including gender-based violence, online abuse and targeted threats.
Fewer killings outside conflict zones, but accountability remains limited
Despite the worsening global impunity rate, the report identifies some progress in countries not experiencing armed conflict.
The number of journalists killed in these countries fell to 62, its lowest level in 18 years. Their impunity rate also declined by 17 percentage points since 2012, reaching 77%.
However, UNESCO stressed that persistent impunity allows perpetrators to escape justice and contributes to further attacks, while undermining efforts to expose human rights violations, corruption and crime.
UNESCO calls for stronger accountability
The 2026 global campaign marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists carries the theme “Threats Evolve. Impunity Endures.”
The campaign calls for accountability mechanisms to keep pace with evolving threats, particularly in conflict zones, and urges governments, media organizations and civil society to strengthen coordinated efforts to protect journalists and prosecute those responsible for attacks.
The International Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 through Resolution A/RES/68/163, designating November 2 to raise awareness of crimes against journalists and encourage measures to end impunity.
The date commemorates the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on November 2, 2013.
UNESCO is marking the occasion with the release of its latest report, policy discussions and global advocacy activities aimed at strengthening the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
