UN Raises Alarm Over Rising Attacks on Journalists Ahead of World Press Freedom Day
The United Nations has warned of escalating attacks on journalists worldwide, calling for urgent action to protect media workers and safeguard press freedom.
In a message marking World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said the safety of journalists is under increasing threat across the globe.
According to UN data, about 330 media workers are currently detained, alongside roughly 500 citizen journalists and human rights bloggers. Authorities in many countries are also deploying laws on defamation, disinformation, cybercrime, and terrorism to silence critical voices, often through costly legal actions.
Türk warned that no country can currently guarantee a fully safe environment for journalists. “When attacks on the media are normalised, freedom itself begins to decay, and with it, the foundations of peace, security, and sustainable development,” he said.
He paid tribute to journalists worldwide who continue to expose corruption, document atrocities, and hold power to account despite mounting risks. However, he stressed that journalism has become an increasingly dangerous profession, with reporters facing abduction, detention, job loss, and even death.
At least 14 journalists have been killed since January, while only a small fraction of such killings over the past two decades have led to full accountability.
Covering armed conflict remains particularly perilous. Türk described the ongoing Israel–Hamas War as a “death trap” for media workers, noting that nearly 300 journalists have been killed since October 2023. He also highlighted the extreme dangers faced by local reporters in conflict zones such as Sudan.
The UN rights chief further raised concerns about transnational repression and surveillance targeting journalists, citing recent attacks on Iranian reporters abroad. He also pointed to rising online harassment, especially against women journalists, many of whom face smear campaigns, threats, and gender-based abuse.
Türk warned that such trends risk fostering a “disinformation society” where facts are suppressed and truth is compromised.
He urged technology companies to take stronger action against online abuse and misinformation, while calling on media organisations to uphold independence, transparency, and integrity.
In a separate message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the number of journalists killed has risen sharply in recent years, particularly in conflict zones.
“Far too frequently, the first casualties are the journalists who risk everything to report that truth,” he said, noting that press freedom is under unprecedented strain from economic pressures, emerging technologies, and deliberate manipulation.
Guterres called on governments worldwide to protect journalists, prevent attacks, investigate violations, and ensure accountability for crimes against media workers.
