In 2020, 42 murders of mass media representatives were registered in the world. The majority of the journalists were killed in Mexico as the International Federation of Journalists reported.
The most dangerous region for the mass media representatives is Latin America. In Mexico, 13 murders of journalists were registered since the beginning of 2020. Five murders in Pakistan. Three murders were registered in Afghanistan, India, Iraq and Nigeria.
Besides, two journalists were killed in the Philippines, Somali and Syria. One journalist was killed in Cameroon, Honduras, Paraguay, Russia, Sweden and Yemen.
According to the federation, at least 235 mass media representatives detained all over the world.
“At least 235 journalists are currently in prisons in 34 countries around the world, in work-related cases. The IFJ’s list does not include other journalists facing charges but who have been released on bail,” the report says.
Totally, during the past 30 year, 2,658 journalists were killed in the world. It means that about two journalists and mass media employees killed each week.
“Over 50% of journalists were killed in the ten most dangerous top spots featuring countries which suffered from war, crime and corruption as well a catastrophic breakdown of law and order. Iraq (339 killed) came top followed by Mexico (175), Philippines (159), Pakistan (138), India (116), Russian Federation (110), Algeria (106), Syria (96), Somalia (93) and Afghanistan (93),” the IFJ reported.
As we reported, 25 cases of physical aggression against the Ukrainian journalists took place during three months of autumn in 2020. During the last four years, it is the largest number of incidents that occurred in autumn; the lowest number was observed in 2019 (16 cases), in 2017 – 21 incidents, in 2018 – 23 incidents.