Haiti, Israel rank worst in CPJ impunity index 

Two small nations – Haiti and Israel – are now the world’s biggest offenders in letting journalists’ murderers go unpunished, according to CPJ’s 2024 Global Impunity Index, which measures unsolved murders in proportion to a country’s population. This year is the first time Israel has appeared in CPJ’s index since its inception in 2008.

In Haiti, ranked No. 1, a weak-to-nonexistent judiciary, gang violence, poverty, and political instability have contributed to the failure to hold killers to account. Israel’s targeted killing of journalists in Gaza and Lebanon during a relentless war drove it up to the No. 2 spot on the index, which covers the period from September 1, 2014, to August 31, 2024.

Somalia, Syria, and South Sudan, all long-time occupants on the list, round out the top five worst offenders. In close to 80% of global murders of journalists, no one is held to account.

Read the special report

• After 30 years, no justice for 30 murdered journalists
• Pakistan reporters in fear as killings spike
• Press release