International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/11/2026
12:00 am
Categories
On 2 November, we mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
Since 1993, more than 1,700 journalists have been killed for reporting the news. In nine out of ten cases, the killers go unpunished. Impunity doesn’t just fail the victims. It leads to more killings and is often a sign of conflict worsening and justice systems breaking down.
In Gaza, the UN Human Rights Office warned that it has “seemingly become the deadliest place for journalists – and their families – in the world.” According to a July 2026 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Israeli forces have killed nearly 300 journalists since October 2023 and wounded more than 400. Around 70 were killed in reprisal for their work, many while wearing press vests or in marked vehicles.
Under international humanitarian law, journalists are civilians and must be protected. Accountability, through independent investigation and prosecution, is how we stop this from happening again.
Read more: https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-impunity-crimes-against-journalists
The UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity is the first concerted effort within the UN to address attacks and impunity of crimes against journalists, with a multi-stakeholder and holistic approach. It brings together UN bodies, national authorities, media, and civil society organizations.
Since the plan was adopted, the issue of safety of journalists has gained a higher visibility in the UN, as evidenced by the increasing number of declarations, resolutions and other normative texts, and the UN Secretary General’s Call to Action for Human Rights. Protecting journalists is also part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Plan has also contributed to building international coalitions of governments and civil society and served to bring about changes on the ground, such as the creation of national safety mechanisms in at least 50 countries.
But despite these achievements, challenges still exist. The high rate of impunity for crimes against journalists persists and new forms of threats develop in unprecedented ways.
The 10-year anniversary was a milestone to Reaffirm, Recommit and Reposition efforts to advance the UN Plan.