UNESCO records 127 journalists and media workers killed in conflict zones in 2024–2025, including 50 killed by drone strikes. The overall toll of 189 rose 20% from the preceding biennium and was the highest since 2014–2015.
UNESCO’s 2026 biennial report records 127 journalists and other media workers killed in conflict zones in 2024–2025, out of 189 killed overall. Drone strikes killed 50 journalists, accounting for about 40% of the conflict-zone toll.
The overall death toll rose 20% from the preceding biennium and was the highest since 2014–2015. UNESCO released the findings for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed on 2 November.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said impunity—the failure to hold those responsible accountable—in conflict settings is close to 100%. He called for justice, saying the killings harm victims, their families and the public that depends on journalists for information.
The report documents 7 incidents in which several journalists were targeted and killed in a single attack, including strikes on media workplaces and temporary reporting centers. It says 15 journalists were reportedly killed while wearing press vests or in vehicles clearly marked “Press.”
| Region | Recorded killings |
|---|---|
| Arab States | 97 |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 37 |
| Asia-Pacific | 34 |
| Central and Eastern Europe |
King Philippe is considering the offer and plans to begin consultations with coalition party chairs on 3 November 2026.
| 14 |
| Africa | 6 |
| Western Europe and North America | 1 |
The State of Palestine had the highest country total in both years, with 30 killings in 2024 and 32 in 2025.
UNESCO puts overall impunity at 86%, up 1 percentage point from the preceding biennium. This is the first increase since it began measuring the rate in 2012. The measure concerns killings recorded in UNESCO’s Observatory on Killed Journalists.
UNESCO says its information on investigations into killings condemned by its Director-General comes solely from the states concerned. If a state has never supplied information, UNESCO classifies the case as having no information received, while acknowledging that it may have been resolved without the organization’s knowledge.
Its “resolved” category includes convictions, but also suspects dying before proceedings conclude, judicial findings that a death was unrelated to journalism, and sentenced perpetrators released early under a pardon or amnesty. Unresolved cases include ongoing investigations, pending appeals and completed proceedings that have not successfully held perpetrators accountable.
UN News gives a separate non-conflict-zone death toll of 85, which is inconsistent with its overall and conflict-zone totals. UNESCO’s campaign page gives 62 deaths outside armed conflict, matching the difference between those totals. The published figures conflict and cannot be treated as interchangeable.
UNESCO says impunity in countries not experiencing armed conflict fell from 94% in 2012 to 77% in 2026. It interprets that improvement as evidence that government investment in investigations, prosecutions and journalist protection can produce progress.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany renewed his appeal for respect for UN Security Council Resolution 2222, unanimously adopted in 2015. The resolution addresses the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians in conflict.
UNESCO continues to request state updates on cases with no investigation information and on most ongoing or unresolved cases. Cases classified as resolved can return to the unresolved category if new developments, such as an appeal, emerge.
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