The outgoing year was one of the most dangerous for journalists in recent years, with 120 journalists killed in the year, according to a report issued by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
Most of the journalists killed during the year were killed in Gaza.
The report stated that in 2023, 68% of journalists and media workers killed globally were killed in the Gaza conflict. The report stated that 75 Palestinians, four Israelis, and three Lebanese journalists were killed as a result of the war in Gaza, and three media workers were killed in Syria.
In the Asia-Pacific region, 12 journalists were killed, including two in Pakistan. Three were killed in India, two in Afghanistan, two in the Philippines, two in Bangladesh, and one in China.
In North and South America, as many as ten journalists were killed in 2023. Of these, three were killed in Mexico, one in Paraguay, three in Guatemala, one in Colombia, one in Honduras and one in America.
In Africa, the IFJ recorded eight murders. This includes two in Cameroon, one in Sudan, one in Lesotho, one in Mali, one in Somalia, one in Mozambique, and one in Nigeria, which they have failed to be fully investigated to date, and one accidental killing in Rwanda.
In Europe, three journalists and media workers were killed. A Ukrainian, a Russian and a French were killed in the Ukrainian war. One media worker was killed in Albania.
"Today, our thoughts go out to journalists' families and our colleagues in world newsrooms who are mourning the deaths of colleagues killed for simply doing their jobs," said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger.
"While we always remind journalists that no story is worth their life, there are too many situations where they are deliberately targeted to cover up stories and restrict the public's right to know.
"It is a democratic right of citizens to be duly informed; it is governments' responsibility to ensure journalists are protected to report independently. The deadly figures from this year illustrate how badly we need an internationally binding instrument forcing states to adopt key mechanisms to protect journalists' safety and independence."