A total of 45 journalists were killed worldwide in 2021 – one of the lowest death tolls recorded for any year.
This is according to a release by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Friday.
According to the report, the Asia-Pacific region recorded 20 killings; the Americas, 10; Africa, eight; Europe, six, and the Middle East and Arab countries, one.
Noting the decrease was a welcome news, but a small comfort in the face of continued violence, the IFJ stated that media workers more often than not were killed for exposing corruption, crime and abuse of power in their communities, cities and countries.
It added that while the risks associated with armed conflict have reduced in recent years because fewer journalists were able to report on the ground, the threats continue to increase.
IFJ Secretary-General, Anthony Bellanger also emphasized the organisation’s support for a UN convention for the protection of journalists to ensure accountability for journalists’ killings
The IFJ’s figures tracked closely with a toll of 46 killings of journalists given two weeks ago by another media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which also noted it as its lowest-ever since starting its tallies in 1995.
0
0
