The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has released its 2024 Global Impunity Index, which reveals that globally, there is a lack of accountability in 80 percent of cases where journalists are targeted. Israel has been identified as the world’s second-worst offender, following Haiti, in allowing the murder of journalists to go unpunished. The top five countries on the list also include Somalia, Syria, and South Sudan. The index shows that in at least 241 cases, there is evidence that journalists were directly targeted for their work.
The CPJ index includes 13 nations, both democracies and non-democratic governments, and has been tracking this data since 2008. In Haiti, criminal gangs have contributed to the destabilization of the country’s administrative and judicial institutions, resulting in the unresolved murders of at least seven journalists. Israel, appearing on the index for the first time, is ranked second due to its failure to hold anyone accountable for the targeted killing of five journalists in Gaza and Lebanon during a year of relentless war.
According to CPJ Chief Executive Jodie Ginsberg, it is clear that Israel is not committed to investigating or punishing those responsible for killing journalists. She stated that Israel has deliberately targeted journalists for being journalists, even going as far as announcing the killing of reporters and falsely claiming they were terrorists. The CPJ is investigating the killings of at least 10 journalists, but the actual number may be higher due to the scale of Israel’s war in Gaza and Lebanon.
Mexico has recorded the highest number of unpunished murders of journalists during the index period, with 21 cases, placing it eighth on the index due to its sizeable population. Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the Philippines have regularly appeared on the index since its inception. Ginsberg called on the international community to help protect journalists, emphasizing that murder is used as the ultimate weapon to silence them. Once impunity takes hold, it sends a dangerous message that killing journalists is acceptable and those who continue reporting may face a similar fate.
In conclusion, the CPJ’s Global Impunity Index highlights the lack of accountability for crimes committed against journalists around the world. Israel’s inclusion on the index for the first time raises concerns about the country’s commitment to investigating and punishing those responsible for targeting journalists. The high number of unpunished murders in countries like Mexico underscores the urgent need for international support to protect journalists and ensure their safety. The index serves as a reminder of the dangers journalists face in carrying out their work and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable to uphold press freedom and protect freedom of expression.
