The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of attacks on journalists, warning that such actions threaten press freedom and democratic foundations globally.
In a message ahead of World Press Freedom Day, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, emphasized that violence against media workers must end.
According to UN data, approximately 330 journalists are currently detained worldwide, alongside about 500 citizen journalists and human rights bloggers. Türk also highlighted the growing misuse of laws related to defamation, disinformation, cybercrime, and terrorism, which are increasingly deployed to shield those in power and suppress critical reporting.
He warned that “practically no country offers a safe environment in which to be a journalist,” adding that normalizing attacks on the media erodes freedom and undermines peace, security, and sustainable development.
Türk paid tribute to journalists who risk their lives to expose corruption, document atrocities, and hold powerful institutions accountable. However, he lamented that journalism has become an increasingly dangerous profession, with reporters facing abduction, imprisonment, job loss, and even death.
At least 14 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the year, while only a small fraction of such cases over the past two decades have resulted in full accountability.
Conflict zones remain particularly deadly. Türk described the ongoing war in Gaza as a “death trap” for journalists, noting that nearly 300 media workers have been killed since October 2023. He also referenced the extreme dangers faced by reporters in Sudan, who endure violence, brutality, and famine while continuing their work.
The High Commissioner further pointed to risks in countries like Mexico, where journalists investigating corruption, environmental damage, and organized crime face threats not only to themselves but also to their families.
He also raised concerns about transnational repression and surveillance, citing attacks on Iranian journalists abroad, as well as the rise of online harassment—particularly targeting women journalists, the majority of whom have experienced abuse, including threats of sexual violence.
Türk warned that such conditions could foster a “disinformation society,” where media outlets are pressured to distort facts or avoid truth altogether to remain safe. He urged technology companies to take stronger action against online abuse and called for greater independence, transparency, and integrity in media institutions.
In a separate statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted a sharp increase in journalist killings in recent years, particularly in conflict zones.
“Truth is often said to be the first casualty of war,” Guterres stated. “Far too frequently, the first casualties are the journalists who risk everything to report that truth.”
He also warned that press freedom is under unprecedented pressure due to economic challenges, emerging technologies, and deliberate manipulation.
Guterres called on governments worldwide to protect journalists, prevent attacks, ensure accountability for violations, and safeguard media workers from surveillance, both domestically and abroad.
