Geneva, December 14, 2022 (PEC) Ukraine and Mexico were the most dangerous countries for media work this year, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said in its annual report published in Geneva on Wednesday. Since January, 115 media workers have been killed in 29 countries around the world.
«The number of journalists killed increased by 45% compared to last year (79 victims). It is the highest number of casualties since 2018 with a brutal deterioration in Europe due to the war in Ukraine», said PEC President Blaise Lempen.
By region, Latin America is ahead with 39 journalists killed, followed by Europe with 37 victims, then Asia 30, Africa 7 and North America 2.
Many victims in Ukraine
Europe experienced the worst deterioration in the safety of journalists since the wars in former Yugoslavia from 1992 to 1999. In Ukraine, it is very difficult to establish the exact circumstances of the deaths of journalists in the absence of an independent investigation. PEC counted 34 victims since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24.
At least 8 journalists were clearly killed in the line of duty, 12 others on Russian shelling attacks or other crimes and at least 14 as fighters in the Ukrainian army (source: Institute of Mass Information, Kyiv). Among the 34 victims, 8 were foreigners (Brent Renaud, Maks Levin, Pierre Zakrzewski, Frédéric Lerclerc-Imhoff, Mantas Kvedaravicius and 3 Russians : Oksana Baulina, Svetlana Babayeva and Oleg Klokov).
After Ukraine, Mexico was the most dangerous country with 17 victims, the highest annual death toll since at least the beginning of the century in this country. They were the target of criminal gangs in a climate of violence and impunity.
At the third place with 8 victims, Haiti has experienced significant deterioration due to growing insecurity.
Six deaths were recorded in Pakistan, 5 in the Philippines, 4 in Colombia and 4 in India.
Three victims were registered in the following countries : Bangladesh, Honduras, Israël/Palestine, and Yemen.
Two deaths were recorded in Brazil, Chad, Ecuador, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, United States of America. Finally, one victim has been identified in the following countries : Central African
Republic, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Paraguay, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, and Vietnam.
PEC strongly condemns these attacks and calls for those responsible for these crimes to be brought to justice as quickly as possible.
As a positive note, there was no casualties among journalists so far in Afghanistan in 2022 instead of 12 in 2021. However, many journalists were obliged to flee the country.
On average more than 2 journalists killed each week
Over the last 5 years, Mexico has recorded the greatest number of victims (69), ahead of Afghanistan (44), then India (37), Ukraine (36), Pakistan (34), Syria (24), the Philippines (21), Yemen (17),
Honduras (13), Somalia (13), Brazil (12) and Haiti (11).
In ten years, from 2013 to 2022, 1135 journalists were killed, or 113 per year, 2.2 per week, according to figures from the PEC.
Press Emblem Campaign hopes that the international community will start in 2023 the work for an international convention to enhance the safety of journalists. It would be a great step forward to better fight against impunity.
The PEC lists all killed media workers, whether or not their deaths are related to their professional activity. It is indeed difficult to prove that a crime takes place connected to the work of a journalist without independent and comprehensive investigations which are often lacking.
SUMMARY FOR 2022: 115 JOURNALISTS KILLED IN 29 COUNTRIES: Ukraine 34, Mexico 17, Haiti 8, Pakistan 6, Philippines 5, Colombia 4, India 4, Bangladesh 3, Israel/Palestine 3, Honduras 3, Yemen 3, Brazil 2, Chad 2, Ecuador 2, Myanmar 2, Somalia 2, Syria 2, United States of America 2, Central African Republic 1, Chile 1, Democratic Republic of Congo 1, Guatemala 1, Kazakhstan 1, Kenya 1, Paraguay 1, Russia 1, Sweden 1, Turkey 1, Vietnam 1.
List of casualties on: www.pressemblem.ch
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