The world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, amid renewed calls for justice for media workers attacked, threatened or killed in the line of duty.
The 2026 campaign, themed “Threats evolve. Impunity endures,” highlights how new technologies and weapons are changing the risks journalists face, particularly in conflict zones, while perpetrators continue to evade accountability.
According to UNESCO, 189 journalists were killed in violent attacks in 2024 and 2025, with 67 per cent of the killings occurring in conflict zones. The organisation also reported that the global impunity rate for journalist killings has risen to 86 per cent, leaving nearly nine out of every 10 cases unresolved.
The International Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 to raise awareness of crimes against journalists and call for investigations and prosecution of those responsible.
The date, November 2, commemorates the 2013 assassination of two French journalists in Mali.
UNESCO has warned that when crimes against journalists go unpunished, perpetrators are emboldened, threatening press freedom and the public’s right to information.
The organisation is calling on governments, media institutions and civil society to strengthen journalist protection, investigate attacks and ensure accountability.
The day serves as a reminder that journalists must be able to report without fear of violence, intimidation or reprisal.
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