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.
The 2024 United States presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5, amid an increasingly polarized political climate. Coupled with a high level of distrust in the media, journalists are likely to face significant security challenges surrounding election day.
CPJ’s election safety guide is designed to help newsrooms and journalists think about and manage physical and digital risks, understand legal rights, and help create an atmosphere of psychological safety when it comes to covering the U.S. election.
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Special Report: What the US election could mean for global press freedom
We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.
Tareq AlSalhi
GazaLive, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory
AlHassan Hamad
Freelance,Al Jazeera,Media Town TV, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Mohammed Abed Rabbo
Al-Manara Agency, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Muhammad Bachal Ghunio
Awaz TV, Pakistan
Ryan Evans
Reuters, Ukraine
Gulistan Tara
Chatr Multimedia Production Company, Iraq