UNESCO stated that journalists covering environmental issues are facing rising violence globally, with 44 murders recorded between 2009 and 2023, according to Reuters.
More than 70% of the 905 surveyed journalists from 129 countries reported being attacked, threatened, or pressured. Violence against them has worsened, with 305 attacks in the last five years alone.
UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, included in its report various forms of attacks on journalists: physical assaults like injuries, arrests, and harassment, along with legal actions such as defamation lawsuits and criminal proceedings.
The report stated that at least 749 journalists, groups, and media outlets faced attacks in 89 countries worldwide. State actors were responsible for at least half of these incidents, while private entities were accountable for about a quarter.
“State actors, including police, military forces, government officials, and employees, are largely responsible for most documented attacks,” stated the report.
The journalists covered various topics such as protests, mining and land conflicts, logging, deforestation, extreme weather events, pollution, environmental damage, and the fossil fuel industry.
The report noted that men faced more physical attacks while women were targeted more frequently online.
Out of 44 journalists murdered across 15 countries while reporting on environmental issues, only five cases led to convictions, with perpetrators remaining unidentified in 19 instances.
Additionally, the report stated that at least 24 journalists survived murder attempts.
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