Sharp increase in killings of journalists in 2012-2016: UNESCO

04, May 2018 | CJP Team

According to a UNESCO report, the global number of journalists killed has risen sharply inthe period between 2012 and the end of 2016, the Hindustan Times reported. 530 deaths were reported in said period, a 67.72% increase over the 316 deaths documented in the previous period, between 2007 and the end of 2011. Syria saw the most number of journalists being killed, at 86, followed by Iraq, with 46 killings, then Mexico, with 37. “The year 2012 proved to be the deadliest year on record, with 124 journalists killed,” the report noted. It added that while the number of journalists who were killed reduced slightly since 2012, the number is still “alarmingly high.” The report highlighted the Arab region as the deadliest one for journalists, saying that 191 journalists were killed there between 2012-2016, “including a significant peak of 50 deaths in 2012”. After a significant drop before 2014, the number increased for Asia and the Pacific region, which saw a total 107 killings, and a peak of 27 in 2016. The report noted that North America and Western Europe, which are typically “low-risk” for “lethal violence against journalists,” saw an “uncharacteristically high” number of killings–17– “due to an act of violent extremism.” The complete UNESCO report may be read here.