The United Nations has raised fresh concerns over increasing attacks on journalists worldwide, warning that growing threats against media professionals pose serious risks to press freedom and democratic accountability.Speaking ahead of World Press Freedom Day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said no country currently offers a completely safe environment for journalists, stressing that attacks on the media weaken freedom, peace, and sustainable development.
According to UN reports, about 330 media workers, alongside nearly 500 citizen journalists and human rights bloggers, are currently being detained globally, while legal tools such as defamation, cybercrime, terrorism, and disinformation laws are increasingly being used to silence critical reporting. Türk paid tribute to journalists documenting atrocities, exposing corruption, and holding powerful institutions accountable, but lamented that journalism has become an increasingly dangerous profession, with reporters facing abductions, imprisonment, violence, and dismissal.
He disclosed that at least 14 journalists have been killed since January, noting that only a small fraction of journalist killings over the last two decades have resulted in full accountability. The UN official described the ongoing war in Gaza as particularly deadly for media workers, revealing that nearly 300 journalists have been killed since October 2023, with many others injured.
Türk also highlighted threats faced by journalists in conflict zones such as Sudan and countries like Mexico, where reporting on corruption and organised crime often places media workers and their families at grave risk. He further expressed concern over rising online harassment, particularly against women journalists, and called on tech companies to take stronger action against digital abuse and disinformation. In a separate message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged governments worldwide to safeguard journalists, investigate attacks against them, and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Source: https://punchng.com/
