Image / GnDiary

United Nations, December 24 (RHC)-- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has deplored the killing of 59 journalists worldwide, four of them women.

In a report, UNESCO revealed that Latin America and Asia-Pacific regions were the most dangerous for media workers, reporting 22 murders of reporters in each.  Arab countries counted nine murders of journalists and Africa six.

Over the past decade, 888 information professionals were killed for doing their job, according to the international entity's statistics.  In its report published in November on the safety of journalists, UNESCO regretted that impunity is the norm in this area.  According to its data, in 2020 no consequences were recorded in 87 percent of the cases.

UNESCO's General Director, Audrey Azoulay, said that this impunity weakens the freedom of the press, in a historical situation, as the coronavirus pandemic, which makes important the truthful information.

"In 2020 we have witnessed the relevance of journalism for our democracies and for the protection of human rights. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has been 'the perfect storm' that has affected press freedom everywhere," said Audrey Azoulay.