The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) details cases of 95 journalists and media professionals who lost their lives in targeted killings, bomb attacks or crossfire incidents.
Releasing its 29th report on journalists and media staff killed in the course of their duties in 2018, IFJ the number represents an increase of thirteen killings more than in 2017.
Likewise, the report has also pointed at the pervasive level of impunity that prevails across the globe where 90 percent journalists’ killings remain unresolved as the authorities all too often fail to conduct credible investigations into these crimes.
The report, In the Shadow of violence; journaloists and media killed in 2018, stated that Yemen, India, Mexico, Afghanistan and Syria recorded the most devastating tolls while South Asia becomes the world’s most dangerous region for journalists, the IFJ report said.
The report further added that the increase in killings takes place in the context of an increasing polarization of views across the world with the rise of dangerous nationalist and populist forces in many countries and the stigmatization of journalists and media by politicians and the enemies of media freedom.
Likewise, the report has also pointed at the pervasive level of impunity that prevails across the globe where 90 percent journalists’ killings remain unresolved as the authorities all too often fail to conduct credible investigations into these crimes.
Releasing the report, FJ President Philippe Leruth said, “Those tragic figures remind us of our duty to act and hold governments responsible for the lack of investigation for journalists’ crimes.”
He emphasized on an international instrument to force all states to act to halt the killing of journalists and bring the killers to justice. (Agencies)
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