Guterres: Recent years witness alarming rate of killings of journalists while carrying out their duties around the world

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that recent years have witnessed an alarming rate of deaths among journalists in conflict zones, especially in Gaza Strip, which has witnessed the highest number of killings of journalists and media workers in any war in decades.

The UN News Center quoted Guterres as saying in his message on Saturday on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists: “A free press is an essential element of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. However, journalists around the world are prevented from doing their work and often face threats, violence and even death in carrying out their mission to reveal the truth and hold the powerful accountable.”

According to Guterres, estimates covering all parts of the world show that 9 out of 10 murders of journalists go unpunished, stressing that “impunity breeds more violence, and this must change.”

Guterres pointed out that the Charter for the Future, adopted last September, calls for respecting and protecting journalists, media professionals and associated personnel working in situations of armed conflict. He called on governments to fulfill their obligations and take urgent steps to protect journalists, investigate crimes committed against them and prosecute their perpetrators everywhere.

The Secretary-General called for working together to end the cycle of violence, uphold freedom of expression, and ensure that journalists can carry out their essential work safely and without fear everywhere.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warned of the escalation of crimes targeting journalists while carrying out their duties around the world, with most of these crimes and their perpetrators remaining unpunished.

Inas Abdulkareem