The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched a warning this Thursday, November 2, 2023, due to the sharp increase in attacks on journalists and violations of their rights during election periods.

In the context of the commemoration of the ‘World Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’, UNESCO has indicated that between January 2019 and June 2022, it documented 759 individual attacks on journalists during 89 elections in 70 countries around the world, including five murdersassesses the agency EFE.

42% of these attacks were committed by police or various security forces.

UNESCO, based in Paris, noted that in many cases government authorities prevent the public from exercising their right to access information during elections and public demonstrations.

This happened, for example, through internet outages and service disruptions, but also through censoring the media and critical voices or digital monitoring of journalists.

“All these interventions were made in the name of public order and national security,” the institution said.

While the International Press Institute (IPI), based in ViennaA statement from international news agencies assured that states are failing in their obligation and commitment to protect the safety of journalists and end impunity for those who attack them.

IPI mentioned that in the last thirty years According to UNESCO, 1,600 journalists have been murdered and only 10% of those responsible have been brought to justice..

“Impunity remains unacceptably high, while attacks, violence and threats against the press are increasing,” the IPI notes in that note.

For this reason, this organization has urged states to “urgently fulfill their obligations to protect the safety of journalists, even in conflict zones.”

The data, the IPI said, shows “the alarming inability of states” to meet their obligations to ensure “the full investigation and prosecution of crimes against journalists.”

In 2022, The number of murders of journalists has increased by 50%, with 86 cases, and half of them took place in their spare time.

Although all regions of the world were affected, Latin America and the Caribbean were the most dangerous for journalists last year, with 44 murders, with Mexico, Ukraine and Haiti the deadliest countries, with 19, 10 and 9 murders respectively.

A year ago, representatives of UN member states in Vienna pledged to protect the safety of journalists and end impunity, marking the tenth anniversary of the UN Action Plan for the Safety of Informants.

“A year later, these commitments have produced no demonstrable action or change, while the situation has become even more dire for so many journalists around the world,” IPI denounced. (JO)