Posted: Monday, November 3, 2025. 8:52 am CST.
By Zoila Palma: The United Nations observed the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, highlighting the urgent need to protect media professionals and uphold press freedom worldwide.
This year’s commemoration centered on the growing risks women journalists face in digital spaces, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that have enabled new forms of online harassment and gender-based violence.
The campaign, titled “Chat GBV,” calls for global action to combat AI-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and promote safe digital environments for women journalists.
According to UNESCO, the digital transformation has opened avenues for expression and activism but has also exposed women in public-facing professions—such as journalists, politicians, and scientists—to increased online abuse. These threats include deepfakes, surveillance, gendered disinformation, and other AI-driven harassment. Such violence not only endangers individual journalists but also undermines freedom of expression by silencing voices and deterring critical reporting.
“Chat GBV” encourages discussion, awareness, and policy reforms to confront these challenges through advocacy forums and collaboration across digital platforms.
Despite global initiatives, impunity for crimes against journalists remains alarmingly high. UNESCO reports that since 1993, over 1,700 journalists have been killed for their work, and in nearly 90 percent of cases, the perpetrators remain unpunished.
Latin America and the Caribbean continue to be the most dangerous regions for journalists.
Beyond killings, reporters face constant threats of kidnapping, torture, and online intimidation, with 73 percent of women journalists reporting digital abuse linked to their work. This climate of fear severely limits the free flow of information and weakens public accountability.
In response, the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity continues to drive collaborative efforts among UN bodies, national governments, media organizations, and civil society.
The plan, aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, has fostered the creation of national safety mechanisms in at least 50 countries and strengthened advocacy for press freedom.
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Posted: Monday, November 3, 2025. 8:52 am CST. By Zoila Palma: The United Nations observed the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on
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