128 journalists were killed worldwide in 2014
The year 2014 was devastating for journalists: At least 128 of them were killed in 32 countries, according to the annual report released Monday in Geneva by the nongovernmental organization Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).
The organization cites impunity and a lack of compliance with international law as the reasons for the high death toll among media workers. Israel was responsible for the highest number of deaths this year. During its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, 16 journalists were killed. Syria ranked second with 13 fatalities, followed by Pakistan, where 12 media workers were killed, primarily in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. Iraq ranked fourth among the most dangerous countries, with 10 journalists killed, including several during the advance of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. In fifth place was Ukraine, where 9 media workers were killed, including four Russians, followed by Mexico with 8 journalists killed.
In 2014, a total of 46 journalists were killed in the Middle East, followed by Asia (31), Latin America (27), sub-Saharan Africa (14), and Europe (10). In 2013 alone, 129 media workers lost their lives while on the job. Over the past five years, the most dangerous countries were Syria, with 69 journalists killed, followed by Pakistan (63), Mexico (59), Iraq (44), and Somalia (39). (SDA)
