At least 2,297 journalists killed since 1990, International Federation of Journalists says
by Compiled from Wire Services
ISTANBULFeb 04, 2016 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Compiled from Wire Services
Feb 04, 2016 12:00 am
At least 2,297 journalists and media workers have been killed in the last 25 years, with Iraq standing out as the most deadly country, the International Federation of Journalists said on Wednesday
Journalists lost their lives in targeted killings, in bomb attacks, in cross-fire and kidnappings during wars and armed conflicts across the globe, while others were killed by organized crime and corrupt officials, said the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Some 112 journalists and media professionals were killed last year alone, although the peak year was 2006 with 155 killings. "At least 2,297 journalists and media staff have been killed since 1990," the report said.
With just one out of 10 killings investigated, the IFJ said the failure to end the impunity for killings and other attacks on media professionals only fuels violence against them. "This milestone publication charts the trajectory of the safety crisis in journalism, and bears witness to the IFJ's long-running campaign to end impunity for violence against media professionals," IFJ President Jim Boumelha said. "These annual reports were more than just about recording the killings of colleagues. They also represented our tribute for their courage and the ultimate sacrifice paid by journalists in their thousands who lost their lives fulfilling the role to inform and empower the public," he added. The following countries accounted for the highest numbers of killings: Iraq (309), the Philippines (146), Mexico (120), Pakistan (115), Russian Federation (109), Algeria (106), India (95), Somalia (75), Syria (67) and Brazil (62).
In 2015, ten journalists and staff died in France when extremists attacked the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris, meaning France shared the top spot with Iraq and Yemen last year for media killings. Since 1990, the Asia-Pacific region has registered the highest death toll at 571, followed by the Middle East with 473 killings, the Americas at 472, Africa at 424, and Europe with 357 dead.
The IFJ called on government officials, security and military officers and others who deal with them to respect their independence. It urged "governments to comply with their international obligations by investigating journalists' killings and bringing those responsible to justice, thus deterring future violence."
Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also said in December 2015, at least 67 journalists were killed in the line of duty around the world last year, listing war-torn Iraq and Syria as most dangerous places for journalists with 11 and 10 fatalities respectively, followed by France. The high toll is "largely attributable to deliberate violence against journalists," and demonstrates the failure of initiatives to protect media personnel, the report said, calling for the United Nations to take action. A separate report by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said 69 journalists were killed for their work in 2015, with 40 percent dying at the hands of extremist groups such as Al-Qaida or DAESH.
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