PEC press release (English, French, Spanish, and Arabic)

PEC: 35 journalists killed in first six months of 2021

Geneva, July 6, 2021 (PEC) In the first six months of the year, 35 journalists were killed in 21 countries around the world, the Emblem Campaign Press (PEC) reported on Tuesday. Afghanistan was the most dangerous country with five journalists killed.

The casualty figure is stable compared to the previous year: during the same period last year, also 35 media workers were killed (92 for the whole of 2020).

Five victims have been reported in Afghanistan since the start of the year, three in Mexico and three in Pakistan. Two victims were reported in the following countries: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and India.

One victim in the following countries: Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Gaza, Greece, Haiti, Lebanon, Nigeria, Somalia, Turkey, United States of America, and Yemen.

Most of the victims were targeted intentionally. Almost half of the journalists were killed in an area of ​​armed conflict (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Nagorno-Karabakh, Gaza, Tigray, North Kivu, tribal areas in Pakistan, Somalia). Terrorist groups are responsible for nearly a third of the casualties.

“The PEC strongly condemns these killings and urges the local authorities to shed light on the causes of these crimes in order to arrest and prosecute those responsible,” said PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen. “For the remainder of the year, we are particularly concerned about the situation of the media in Afghanistan, and in particular of women journalists in that country, due to the withdrawal of NATO troops,” he added.

At least 1580 journalists dead from Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic also continues to claim many victims among media workers. Since March 2020, the PEC has identified more than 1580 journalists dead from Covid-19 in 78 countries.

The number of victims slowed during the month of June, especially in India, with around 60 dead, compared to more than 200 in the world in May. Latin America witnessed the highest casualties, with more than half of the victims. During the month of June, the highest number of journalists dead from Covid-19 was recorded in Brazil, one every 2 days.

Until June 30, 2021, the PEC counted the highest number of victims in 20 countries: India (259) ahead of Brazil (247), Peru (163) and Mexico (115).

Next in line are Colombia with 69 dead, Italy 58, Bangladesh 54, Ecuador 51, the United States 49, Venezuela 47, Argentina 36, Iran 32, Great Britain 30, the Dominican Republic 27, the Pakistan 27, Turkey 27 also, Russia 25, Nepal 19, Bolivia 18, and Panama 16.

The sources of the PEC are the national associations of journalists, the local media, the regional correspondents of the PEC and social networks.

List of casualties on: www.pressemblem.ch