NGO PEC Report: 97 Journalists Killed in 2017 in 28 Countries

The annual report of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) published in Geneva, reads that 97 media workers were killed in 2017 across 28 countries; adding that this is a reduction of 24% compared to last year's statistics.

The NGO reports that for the first time since 2008, the PEC registered less than 100 fatalities a year among media workers worldwide (until December 15th).

The most dangerous countries in the world, according to the report, are: Mexico (14 fatalities), Iraq (9), Afghanistan (8), India (7), Pakistan (7), Philippines (6), Syria (6), Somalia (5), Honduras (4), Nigeria (3), Russia (3), Turkey (3) and Yemen (3).

During the last five years, Syria was the most dangerous country for media workers with 69 killed. Iraq follows with 61 journalists killed, then Mexico (49), Pakistan (45), Afghanistan (33), India (31), Philippines (31), Somalia (27), Brazil (24) and Yemen (22).

Over the last ten years, from 2008 to 2017, a total of 1197 media workers were killed, an average of 119 annually and 2.3 per week.    

The NGO stated that the 24% reduction in fatalities in 2017 is encouraging, adding it is due to the important mobilization of the international community.

However, PEC stressed that more female journalists were killed this year. The number of women journalists killed has risen sharply: from 5 in 2016 to 16 in 2017, “probably because more women are working in dangerous situations.”

By Thea Morrison

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Photo source: nuj.org.uk