PEC REPORT : 179 Journalists Lost their Lives in 25 Countries in the Year 2024

VOM Desk : According to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), at least 179 journalists have lost their lives in 25 countries in the year 2024. This number is 28% more than the previous year. Last year this number was 140. 

The Middle East, particularly the Gaza Strip, remained the deadliest region, where 91 journalists were killed. These include 80 in Gaza, 6 in Lebanon, 4 in Syria and 1 in the West Bank. Since October 2023, 161 media workers have died as a result of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

PEC's annual update showed that almost three-quarters of the victims were killed in conflict zones. 20 journalists were killed in December alone, underlining the growing dangers faced by journalists in unstable regions. This grim data builds on a steady increase in media-related deaths in recent years, with 116 deaths in 2022 and 92 in 2020, highlighting the growing risks for journalists globally.

The conflict in Gaza since October 2023 has resulted in unprecedented losses, with at least 161 media workers killed in the space of just a few months. The Ukraine war has also been responsible for a spike in media worker deaths, with 19 Ukrainian journalists and one foreign journalist, Reuters’ Ryan Evans, killed in 2024. In addition, the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Rochchina in Russian custody brought the total number of Ukrainian media casualties to 21.

Pakistan, where 12 journalists were killed in the first month of 2024, was followed by Russia, Mexico and Bangladesh, with seven journalists each, total 21. Other countries with journalist deaths include Sudan, Colombia, India, Iraq, Myanmar and several African countries.

The PEC figures reflect an alarming rise in deaths in Asia, particularly in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. The growing risks to journalists in these regions are reflected in the 31 journalists killed across Asia, up significantly from the 12 of the previous year.

Five #journalists killed in #Israeli army attack in #Gaza #GazaGenocide https://t.co/ORDJc947XS

— VOiCE OF MEDIA (@voiceofmedia1) December 26, 2024

PEC has condemned the ongoing impunity surrounding the killings of journalists. Blaise Lempen, President of PEC, said, “We condemn all these crimes committed in violation of international law and national legislation. Independent investigations are necessary to clarify the circumstances and prosecute those responsible. Despite the challenges, PEC is determined to continue its advocacy for the safety of journalists, calling for stronger international instruments to protect the profession, especially in conflict zones.”

The organization also stressed its commitment to tracking the deaths of all journalists, even if the deaths are directly related to their journalistic activities, due to the difficulty in conducting independent investigations in many cases.

Neo Thakuria, PEC Representative for South and South-East Asia, highlighted isolated cases of journalists being killed in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Myanmar, and underlined the grave dangers faced by media professionals in these countries.