Geneva, Oct 31, 2025 (PEC) The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) calls for new measures to combat impunity and its devastating effects on the occasion of the International Day on 2 November. Since the beginning of 2025, at least 153 journalists and media workers have been killed around the world, two-thirds in armed conflicts, even though they were clearly identified as ‘press’. The death toll in ten months has never been so high.

The PEC urges UN Member States to rally behind the idea of establishing an independent international commission, conceived under the backing of the UN Secretary-General or the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Such a body would be tasked with investigating serious violations of international humanitarian, criminal, or human rights law committed against journalists, and with delivering recommendations for strengthening national legislation, accountability mechanisms, and redress for victims, thereby facilitating the truth and preventing relapse.

According to the PEC figures, so far in 2025, 153 media workers have been killed in 29 countries: Gaza Strip comes first with 57 killed, then the war between Ukraine and Russia with 11, then Yemen 11, Mexico 10, Sudan 7, India 6, Pakistan 5, Bangladesh 4, Ecuador 4, Iran 4, Philippines 3, Syria 3. Two journalists were killed in  Afghanistan, Colombia, Honduras, Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria, Peru, RDC, and the USA. One media worker has been killed in each of these countries: Brazil, Guatemala, Haiti, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.

“Never before have so many journalists been killed without investigations being carried out to identify those responsible and bring them to justice”, said PEC President Blaiser Lempen. “The international community must react to this tragedy to stop this violence”, he added.

When a journalist is killed and the crime goes unpunished, this tragedy also conveys the message that killing journalists is acceptable. Allowing killers of journalists to walk free sends a chilling signal that the powerful can silence voices, crush families, erase stories and escape accountability. Families of these journalists are left bereft and powerless. And the collective right to know is stolen.

End impunity !