On the eve of International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, a UN-recognised global day observed annually on November 2, the deplorable record of violence and murders committed against media workers resurface in the public domain as the perpetrators continue to enjoy total impunity. The Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), reported that altogether 116 journalists have been killed this year to date across the world, and impunity to the perpetrators is almost guaranteed.

Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, more than 150 journalists have been killed in Palestine and Lebanon as a result of Israeli reprisals for attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah. Palestinian media facilities and equipment were systematically destroyed. No one responsible at any level, military or civilian, has been prosecuted, said Blaise Lempen, president of the PEC. He added that the matter has been referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), in particular following the murder of a Reuters employee in southern Lebanon, but Israel does not recognise ICC's jurisdiction.

Last May, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested international arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as for several Hamas leaders, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel since the start of hostilities unleashed by the Palestinian Islamist movement on October 7. Israel reacted by claiming in September that the ICC lacked jurisdiction over the case.

According to the Israeli government, the prosecutor did not respect the statutes of the Court and the principle of complementarity in that he did not give Israel the opportunity to exercise its right to investigate the accusations made by the prosecutor before the latter submitted his request to the judges. In the absence of ICC proceedings, independent investigations must be carried out.

Jerusalem authorities have banned foreign journalists from travelling to Gaza in a bid to prevent credible testimony. Israeli journalists have been allowed in, but only under the supervision of the Israeli army. The PEC strongly condemns these practices. This widespread impunity is very worrying, as it sends out wrong signals. Elsewhere in the world, impunity remains the rule, as in Mexico, Pakistan and Russia.

PEC once again urges the Israeli army to respect international humanitarian law, and in particular, the distinction between civilians and combatants. Admittedly, this distinction is difficult to observe when combatants are hiding among civilians, commented the PEC chief, adding that the media, clearly identified as such, are seemingly not taking part in the fighting and hence their freedom to inform must be respected, even if they belong to the opposing camp.

In the South and Southeast Asian region, Pakistan witnessed the murder of 10 media workers this year namely Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar (Daily Khabrain, Punjab, killed on March 14), Tahira Nosheen Rana (local Urdu newspaper, Punjab, April 22), Muhammad Siddiq Mengel (Khuzdar Press Club, Balochistan, May 3), Mehar Ashfaq Siyal (Daily Khabrain, Punjab, May 15), Kamran Dawar (YouTube/Facebook, North Waziristan, May 21), Nasrullah Gadani (Awami Aghaz, Sindh, May 24), Khalil Jibran (Khyber News, Pakhtunkhwa, 19 June), Hasan Zaib (Aaj News, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, July 14), Muhammad Bachal Ghunio (Awaz TV, Sindh, August 26) and Nisar Lehri (Masting Press Club, Balochistan, September 4).

Bangladesh lost 7 journalists namely Hasan Mehedi (Dhaka Times, July 18), Shakil Hossain (Bhorer Awaj, Dhaka, July 18), Abu Taher Md Turab (Naya Diganta, Sylhet, July 18), Tahir Zaman Priyo (Photo-reporter, Dhaka, July 19), Pradip Kumar Bhowmik (Khabor Patra, Sirajganj, August 4), Tanjil Jahan Islam Tamim (Deepto TV, Dhaka, October 10) and Swapan Kumar Bhadra (Sainik Swajan, Mymensingh, 12 October) to assailants. India recorded 3 journo-murder victims, namely Ashutosh Srivastava (Sudarshan News, Uttar Pradesh, 13 May), Shivshankar Jha (Hindi media outlets, Bihar, June 25) and Salman Ali Khan (Rajgarh TV, Madhya Pradesh, 17 September).

The atrocious military rulers of Myanmar (Burma) murdered Ko Myat Thu Tun (Democratic Voice of Burma, Mrauk-U, January 31), Htet Myat Thu (Voice of Thanbyuzayat, Mon State, August 21) and Win Htut Oo (Democratic Voice of Burma, Mon State, August 21). On the other hand, Indonesia lost Sempurna Pasaribu (Tribrata TV, Sumatra, June 27), and the Philippines recorded the killing of Maria Vilma Rodriguez (eMedia Production Network, Mindanao, October 22) during the last ten months.