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October 31, 2025 – General –
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reaffirmed on 31 October 2025 that ending impunity for crimes against journalists is a collective global duty. The statement, issued ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) on 2 November, denounced ongoing violence and intimidation against media workers and reiterated the demand for a binding international treaty guaranteeing journalists’ safety.
The IFJ’s communiqué pointed out that despite the IDEI having been observed for more than a decade, attacks on journalists continue to rise. It highlighted that reporters covering protests are regularly subjected to beatings, pepper-spray, rubber-bullets, and even fatal violence—even when clearly marked as press. The statement also emphasized that female journalists face specific threats, such as rape or death threats, online harassment, and doxxing.
The organization presented sobering figures for 2025: at least 99 journalists and media workers have died while working, the majority in war zones—50 in Gaza, 8 in Ukraine, and 6 in Sudan. Moreover, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), only one in ten murders of journalists is ever investigated.
To drive systemic change, the IFJ urged UN member states to support its proposed international convention on the safety and independence of journalists. In the words of IFJ President Dominique Pradalié: “Allowing killers and attackers of journalists to walk free sends a chilling signal that the powerful can silence voices, crush families, erase stories, and escape accountability. Families of these journalists are left bereft and powerless. Entire communities lose access to vital information. And the collective right to know is stolen.”
The IFJ emphasized that without formal, binding obligations on governments — and real mechanisms for redress — observing the 2 November day remains symbolic. It insisted that only through enforceable international standards and resolute state action can the pledge to protect journalists be transformed into tangible prevention and justice.
