Guterres Warns Most Crimes Against Journalists go Unpunished
Last update: May 4, 2026
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UN Chief describes the situation as unacceptable level of impunity....
António Guterres said 85% of crimes committed against journalists go uninvestigated and unpunished, calling the level of impunity “unacceptable” in a message marking World Press Freedom Day.
The United Nations chief said press freedom remained a cornerstone of democracy, describing the media as a vital public watchdog.
Guterres recalled the Windhoek Declaration, which underscored the importance of a free press and led to the UN dedicating May 3 to promoting and defending press freedom worldwide.
He warned that economic pressures, emerging technologies and deliberate information manipulation were placing journalism under unprecedented strain.
“When access to reliable information erodes, mistrust takes root. When public debate is distorted, social cohesion weakens. And when journalism is undermined, crises become far more difficult to prevent and resolve,” he said.
“All freedom depends on press freedom. Without it, there can be no human rights, no sustainable development, and no peace.”
Guterres called for stronger protections for journalists, noting they often risk their lives to report events and are frequently among the first casualties in conflict.
“Across the globe, media workers risk censorship, surveillance, legal harassment, and even death,” he said.
The UN Chief addes that killings of journalists had risen sharply in recent years, often with reporters deliberately targeted in conflict zones.
