According to the report "Global Trends in Freedom of Expression and the Development of Media 2022–2025", there is a decline in the level of freedom of expression that has no parallels in recent decades. Self-censorship among journalists has increased by 63%, which corresponds to about 5% annual growth.
Freedom of speech and access to information are not privileges, but basic conditions for achieving a sustainable world. Faced with historical regression, we must unite efforts to protect everyone's right to express thoughts, write, and inform. UNESCO will continue to lead global efforts to maintain pluralism of opinions and ensure their protection. UNESCO Director-General Khaled Al-Anani
From 2022 to 2025, 186 journalists were killed while covering conflicts, which is 67% more compared to the previous three years (2018–2021). In 2025, 93 journalists were killed, 60 of whom were in combat zones.
Despite international commitments to combat impunity for the murders of journalists, punishment for such crimes remains rare. The level of impunity has decreased from 95% in 2012 to 85% in 2024, yet most crimes still go uninvestigated.
Journalists face an increasing number of threats—both physical and digital, as well as legal—which forces them to leave their homes. Since 2018, more than 900 journalists from Latin America and the Caribbean have been forced to emigrate. Environmental reporters are particularly at risk: from 2009 to 2023, UNESCO recorded 749 attacks on such journalists, with a sharp increase in attacks in recent years.
Online aggression, especially against women journalists, has also significantly increased. A study by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in collaboration with UNESCO found that in 2025, 75% of women journalists and media workers became victims of digital violence, compared to 73% in 2020.
Positive Changes
Despite a number of serious issues, there are also positive trends. From 2020 to 2025, 1.5 billion people gained access to social networks and messaging apps, contributing to increased civic engagement worldwide.
Collaboration in investigative journalism is actively developing, leading to an increase in significant cross-border investigations. Many media organizations are establishing fact-checking departments.
Legislation recognizing the rights of local and community media is becoming more widespread, providing important sources of reliable information for local residents.
Recommendations
The report highlights alarming trends and offers specific measures for member states:
1.
States should protect and invest in journalism to promote peaceful societies, paying special attention to the protection of free and independent journalism.
2.
Transparency in the digital environment: In the context of a globalized online space, UNESCO calls for cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure transparent access to information, accountability, and opportunities for users to make informed choices. In 2023, UNESCO released "Global Recommendations for the Governance of Digital Platforms," developed with the involvement of experts from over 130 countries, which helped member states strengthen independent regulatory bodies.
3.
Media and information literacy: Training citizens to critically assess information and navigate social platforms safely is key to building trust in the modern information environment. UNESCO has trained over 10,500 content creators from more than 150 countries, helping them establish trust with their audience, ethically shape public opinion, and create engaging content to enhance media literacy.
The UNESCO report "Global Trends in Freedom of Expression and the Development of Media" is published every four years. The 2022–2025 edition titled "Journalism: Shaping a World for Peace" is based on data from over 100 experts in freedom of speech and media development, as well as hundreds of academic and institutional sources. It is the only global report that analyzes long-term trends in freedom of expression and journalism. The bulk of the data was collected from January 2022 to December 2025.
