PEC: Over 2,000 Journalists Killed Worldwide in 20 Years

A staggering toll has been taken on the journalism profession over the past two decades, with the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) reporting that more than 2,000 journalists have been killed worldwide since 2004, an average of 100 per year, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

The PEC, a Geneva-based monitoring group, cited the lack of accountability for these crimes as a major concern, with most perpetrators evading justice. The organization noted that spikes in journalist casualties have correlated with the outbreak of armed conflicts, including the wars in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and the recent hostilities in Gaza.

“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict since October 2023 has been the deadliest for the media in such a short time, with almost 130 victims – equivalent to the toll in the Syrian civil war from 2011 to 2020,” said PEC president Blaise Lempen.

Mexico has been the most dangerous country for journalists, with over 200 killed in the past 20 years. Other high-risk nations include Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Philippines, India, Honduras, and Somalia.

While the PEC acknowledged progress in raising awareness and diplomatic efforts, it lamented the lack of political will to investigate these crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The group also expressed concern over signs of political censorship and persecution of journalists in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian aggression.