Brussels (Daily Pakistan Online) Russia’s war in Ukraine, chaos in Haiti and increasing violence by criminal gangs in Mexico have increased the number of journalists who will lose their lives on the job in 2022 by 30 percent compared to last year. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says that 67 journalists and media personnel have been killed around the world so far this year, while the number of journalists who lost their lives on duty last year was 47. Five journalists lost their lives in the line of duty in Pakistan this year.
The Brussels-based group also cited 375 journalists who are currently imprisoned for their work, with the most in China, Myanmar and Turkey, according to a new report released Friday. Last year’s report listed 365 journalists behind bars. With the number of deaths of media workers on the rise, the group has called on governments to take more concrete measures to protect journalists and the free press.
According to the IFJ, Ukraine has had the most media workers killed covering the war in Ukraine this year, at 12. Although most of them were Ukrainians, there were also people of other nationalities.
2022 has been the deadliest year ever for journalists in Mexico, Mexico is considered the most dangerous country for journalists outside of a war-torn region. recorded five deaths, and warned of new threats to journalists in Colombia and threats to journalists despite new leadership in the Philippines.
The Brussels-based IFJ represents 600,000 media professionals from trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries. This report has been released on the occasion of the United Nations Human Rights Day.
