UN warns 85% of attacks on journalists go unpunished worldwide

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres raised alarm on World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2026, stating that about 85 percent of attacks on journalists globally remain neither investigated nor punished. Speaking from the 1991 Windhoek Declaration legacy, he described press freedom as a fundamental pillar of democratic societies and the media as a watchdog holding power to account. Guterres warned that press freedom faces mounting pressure from economic challenges, emerging technologies, and the deliberate spread of misinformation. He emphasized that when access to reliable information erodes, mistrust takes root, public debate distorts, social cohesion weakens, and crises become harder to prevent and resolve. Journalists are often the first victims in conflict, risking censorship, surveillance, legal harassment, and even death. He called for stronger safeguards to create an environment where truth and those who report it are secure. The UN chief's remarks highlight a systemic issue affecting media safety worldwide, including in Nigeria, where impunity for attacks on journalists undermines democratic accountability and public access to reliable information. What concrete steps should Nigerian authorities, media organizations, and civil society take to investigate attacks, end impunity, and protect journalists so they can continue their vital watchdog role?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/04/85-percent-of-attacks-on-journalists-go-unpunished-un-raises-alarm/