Russia’s war in Ukraine, chaos in Haiti and growing violence by criminal groups in Mexico have contributed to a sharp rise in the number of journalists killed in the course of their work in 2022, according to a new report released Friday.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says 67 journalists and media workers in the line of duty have been killed worldwide so far this year, compared to 47 last year.
The Brussels-based group also counted 375 journalists currently imprisoned for their work, with the highest figures recorded in China, including Hong Kong, Myanmar and Turkey. Last year’s report listed 365 journalists behind bars.
With the number of media workers killed on the rise, the IFJ and other media rights groups have called on governments to take more concrete action to protect journalists and free journalism.
“Failure to act will only embolden those who seek to suppress the free flow of information and undermine people’s ability to hold their leaders accountable, including by ensuring that that those with power and influence do not stand in the way of open and inclusive societies,” IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said in a statement.
According to the IFJ, more media workers have been killed covering the war in Ukraine – 12 in total – than in any other country this year. Most were Ukrainian, but also included people of other nationalities like American documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud. Many deaths occurred in the chaotic first weeks of the war, although journalists continued to be threatened as the fighting dragged on.
The IFJ said the reign of terror by criminal organizations in Mexico and the breakdown of law and order in Haiti have also contributed to the upsurge in killings. The year 2022 has been one of the deadliest on record for journalists in Mexico, which is now considered the most dangerous country for journalists outside of a war zone.
The federation recorded five journalist deaths during this year’s political crisis in Pakistan, and warned of new threats against journalists in Colombia and continued danger to journalists in the Philippines despite the new power in place.
She also denounced the murder of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh while she was reporting from a Palestinian refugee camp. The Arab network this week formally requested the International Criminal Court to investigate his death.
The Brussels-based IFJ represents 600,000 media professionals from unions and associations in over 140 countries. The report was released on the eve of UN Human Rights Day.