Gaza is consolidating its position as the most dangerous region for journalists.

Barcelona2025 will close with yet another stark reminder of the dangers faced by journalists. According to the latest report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 67 journalists (3 women and 64 men) have been killed this year. This data reaffirms that journalists continue to be persecuted and threatened, most often under authoritarian regimes and governments that violate the right to information. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been responsible for the deaths of 29 journalists, making this region the most dangerous in the world for this profession. Meanwhile, organized crime has positioned Mexico as the second most dangerous place in the world for journalists, with 9 deaths. RSF emphasizes that 2025 is the deadliest year for journalists in Mexico in the last three.

Although the number of deaths is far lower than in 2012, when 142 journalists were killed, the figures remain deeply concerning. Beyond the deaths, the RSF report also refers to other types of attacks against journalists. In total, 503 journalists have been imprisoned this year, 121 of whom are in China, 48 in Russia (26 of them Ukrainian), and 47 in Myanmar. In addition, 135 journalists have disappeared, mostly in Syria, Mexico, and Iraq—the three countries with the highest risk of disappearance for journalists. As for kidnappings, 20 have been recorded this year, most of them in Yemen, Syria, and Mali.

Armed conflicts

The Gaza conflict and the war in Ukraine are two of the scenarios where journalists have had to carry out their profession at the greatest risks. According to RSF's report, since 2023 the Israeli army has killed around 220 journalists, 65 of them deliberately for doing their job. In the last twelve months, it was also responsible for almost half of the murders of journalists worldwide (43%), with a total of 29 victims. Vladimir Putin's situation is not far removed from these figures. Since he came to power in 2000, journalists have been threatened, imprisoned, assaulted, or killed, and since the invasion of Ukraine, 16 professionals have been killed—three in 2025 alone—and 48 people remain in prison, 26 of whom are from the U.S. Mexico is an example of failure in terms of protecting journalists. Although Claudia Sheinbaum became president last year, she has not managed to stop these events, and 2025 will be remembered as the deadliest year of the last three. It remains the second most dangerous country for journalists, with a total of nine murders. This phenomenon is spreading throughout Latin America, which already accounts for 24% of journalist murders worldwide.

Increasingly, journalism professionals are being forced into exile. El Salvador, Afghanistan, Russia, and Belarus continue to purge their territories of independent media outlets that are not aligned with the government. At least 53 journalists from El Salvador were forced into exile between January and October. In Russia, more and more journalists are having to leave to be able to practice their profession. According to RSF's report, nearly 70 people have been arrested or convicted. in absentia —in its absence— by the Kremlin outside its borders. In Afghanistan, the Taliban continue their repression of the press, and journalists forced into exile are facing increasing visa denials from the states to which they seek asylum.