Record Number of Journalists Killed in 2024: PEC Demands Justice

Geneva, January 3, 2025: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media safety and rights organization, reported a record-breaking 179 journalist deaths in 25 countries during 2024. This marks a 28% rise from 140 fatalities in 2023 and is the highest toll since the beginning of the century. Nearly three-quarters of the victims were murdered in conflict zones.

The Middle East was the deadliest region, accounting for over half of the casualties. The ongoing Gaza conflict since October 7, 2023, alone claimed 80 journalists, with additional fatalities reported in Lebanon (6), Syria (4), and the West Bank (1). The PEC described the situation in Gaza as unprecedented, with 161 journalists killed within a short timeframe. In Ukraine, the war led to the deaths of 19 Ukrainian journalists, many of whom were serving in the military, and one foreign journalist, Ryan Evans of Reuters. The death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Rochtchina in Russian custody brought the total to 21.

Outside these zones, Pakistan recorded 12 journalist killings in 2024, reflecting a sharp deterioration. Russia reported seven deaths, including journalists in occupied Ukrainian territories. Bangladesh witnessed seven fatalities amidst unrest in July, while Mexico also recorded seven killings. Other high-risk countries included Sudan (6), Colombia (4), India (4), Iraq (3), and Myanmar (3). Additional deaths were reported in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Cambodia, Chad, Ecuador, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Nepal, and the Philippines.

In the past decade, 1,159 journalists have lost their lives, averaging 2.25 per week. The PEC highlighted the Middle East as the deadliest region in 2024, with 92 fatalities, followed by Asia (31), Europe (28), Latin America (17), and Africa (11). Notably, Asia experienced a significant rise in journalist deaths compared to 12 in 2023, while Latin America saw a slight decline.

PEC President Blaise Lempen condemned these crimes as violations of international and national laws, emphasizing the urgency of independent investigations to ensure justice and combat impunity. He also called for a global framework to protect journalists in conflict zones. Unlike other organizations, the PEC includes all journalist fatalities in its statistics, regardless of whether the deaths are directly linked to their work, citing the challenges in verifying motives without comprehensive investigations.

Nava Thakuria, PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative, detailed regional losses, including the killings of 12 journalists in Pakistan, seven in Bangladesh, four in India, and three in Myanmar. Notable victims include Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar and Tahira Nosheen Rana in Pakistan, Ashutosh Srivastava and Shivshankar Jha in India, and Ko Myat Thu Tun and Htet Myat Thu in Myanmar.

The PEC urged global action to protect journalists and ensure accountability for their deaths, asserting that the rising toll underscores the escalating risks faced by media workers worldwide.