“No Society is free without journalists” – UN Secretary-General

UN’s Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has expressed unpleasant grieve with the growing and continuous murders of journalists across world nations.

In his speech to commemorate November 2nd, 2021, the international day to end impunity for crimes against journalists, the UN secretary regrets that about 9 out of every 10 journalists killed never get justice.

He reiterates UNESCO’s 2020 report proving that over 62 journalists were murdered last year just for doing their jobs.

On his official Twitter handle, Secretary-General Guterres notes, “No country can be free without journalists who can investigate wrongdoings and speak truth to power.”

While revealing that some journalists lost their lives through conflicts coverage, Secretary-General Guterres affirms a recent increase in the number of journalists killed during investigations linked to corruption, trafficking, and many other inhumane aspects falling under media jurisdictions of responsibility.

Mr. Guterres highlights that journalists face countless threats, arbitrary arrest, and detention with kidnaps inclusive, which according to him, all add up to undermining national rules of law and democracy.

In this light, he calls on state leaders worldwide to investigate and punish crimes against journalists with the relentless force of the law.