Guterres Urges Action on Journalist Impunity
The UN chief called for investigations and prosecutions after at least 34 journalists were reported killed worldwide over the past year.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Media
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for the investigation and prosecution of attacks on journalists worldwide, stating that at least 34 journalists were killed over the past year. He said six of every seven journalist killings go unpunished.
Why it matters
Impunity for crimes against journalists undermines press freedom and the public's access to independent reporting. The UN marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists to draw attention to this failure to bring those responsible to justice.
UNESCO recorded 189 journalist killings in 2024 and 2025, with 67 percent in conflict zones and 50 killed by drones across six conflict zones. The IFJ reported 15 journalists and media workers killed in connection with their work in 2026 as of late October.
The players
António Guterres
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, who issued the call for investigation and prosecution of attacks on journalists.
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which tracks and records journalist killings worldwide.
International Federation of Journalists
A global organization of journalists' unions that reported journalist and media worker deaths linked to their work in 2026.
The details
Guterres said journalists face harassment, surveillance, legal action, physical attacks, and imprisonment, while those in conflict zones face killings, arbitrary detention, and intimidation. The impunity rate in conflict settings is close to 100 percent.
Timeline
2013: UN General Assembly established the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
2012: UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists launched.
November 2, 2026: The International Day to End Impunity was observed and Guterres issued his message.
Big Picture
Since the UN General Assembly established the International Day to End Impunity in 2013, impunity in countries not experiencing armed conflict has fallen from 94 percent to 77 percent. Conflict settings, however, still show impunity close to 100 percent.
Readers who rely on international reporting face a higher risk that the journalists covering conflicts may be silenced without consequence. Ongoing impunity affects the reliability of news from dangerous regions.
The takeaway
Protecting journalists depends on prosecuting attacks against them, since impunity allows the killings to continue. Support for independent reporting is a practical way for readers to help keep news from conflict zones reliable.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Media section for context on press freedom and journalist safety.
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