The United Nations (UN) has raised fresh concerns over what it describes as an escalating global assault on journalists, warning that increasing attacks on media professionals threaten press freedom and democratic accountability.
Speaking ahead of the annual World Press Freedom Day marked on May 3, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said the safety of journalists is deteriorating worldwide, with no country offering a truly secure environment for media practice.
According to UN data, about 330 media workers are currently detained globally, alongside roughly 500 citizen journalists and human rights bloggers.
Türk warned that legal frameworks—particularly defamation, disinformation, cybercrime and terrorism laws—are increasingly being weaponised to shield those in power while silencing investigative reporting.
“When attacks on the media are normalised, freedom itself begins to decay, and with it, the foundations of peace, security, and sustainable development,” he said.
He paid tribute to journalists who continue to expose corruption, document atrocities and scrutinise powerful institutions, despite mounting risks.
However, he stressed that journalism has become “an insecure and, at times, dangerous profession,” with reporters facing killings, abductions, arbitrary detention and job losses.
At least 14 journalists have been killed since January 2026, while accountability remains rare, with only a fraction of such killings over the past two decades resulting in justice.
Türk identified conflict zones as the most dangerous environments for journalists, singling out the ongoing war in Gaza as particularly deadly.
His office has verified the killing of nearly 300 journalists since October 2023.
He also highlighted conditions in Sudan, where local reporters face extreme violence and deprivation, including famine, while continuing their work under hostile conditions.
Beyond physical threats, the UN rights chief pointed to a surge in online harassment, particularly targeting women journalists.
He noted that about three-quarters of female reporters have experienced abuse, including smear campaigns and threats of sexual violence.
Türk warned that such intimidation risks creating a “disinformation society,” where journalists are forced to distort facts or self-censor to survive.
He further expressed concern over transnational repression, including surveillance and attacks on journalists working in exile, citing recent incidents involving Iranian reporters abroad.
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The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, echoed these concerns, noting a sharp rise in journalist killings in recent years, especially in war zones.
“Far too frequently, the first casualties are the journalists who risk everything to report that truth,” Guterres said, warning that press freedom is under “unprecedented strain” due to economic pressures, technological disruption and deliberate manipulation.
Both officials called on governments to uphold their obligations to protect journalists, investigate violations and ensure accountability, while urging technology companies to take stronger action against online abuse and disinformation.
The UN maintains that without urgent intervention, the continued erosion of press freedom could undermine global democratic systems and the public’s right to access credible information.
