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The conflict zones have been less deadly for journalists this year, according to RSF. The number of our colleagues killed in the exercise of their profession fell to 49 in 2019, against 80 in 2018. Twenty-nine colleagues were killed in zones of peace, including a third in Mexico, where the media are fighting for continue to inform.
Like last year, ten journalists were murdered in 2019 in Mexico, a country said to be " at peace ". Across Latin America, there are 14. This is the dramatic observation made by the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in its annual report on the dangers linked to the exercise of our profession in the world. Mexico is currently the deadliest country in the world for journalists, on a par with Syria, a country at war.
" For journalists, the border between countries at war and at peace is disappearing, " deplores the secretary general of RSF, Christophe Deloire, quoted in a press release. He added that " overall, the number of deaths in so-called peaceful countries remains as high from one year to the next ".
90% of crimes against journalists unresolved
On site in Mexico, the media are fighting to continue to inform despite the risks, recalls our correspondent in Mexico, Alix Hardy . The latter recently went to Culiacan, in the northwest, where the name of Javier Valdez still resonates. This journalist who was investigating drug trafficking was assassinated in 2017; since then, its editorial staff continues to inform despite the danger.
Ismael Bohorquez is the editor-in-chief of this investigative review, Riodoce . He explains: “ We have never stopped working on corruption, drug trafficking. We tried to manage fear, self-censorship, because here, even a title can be a problem. When writing on these subjects, we are forced to think first, not of the reader, but of the drug trafficker concerned . "
Over 90% of the crimes against journalists have never been solved in Mexico. According to Balbina Flores, RSF representative on the spot, " those most targeted are those dealing with matters relating to the police, politics and corruption. We clearly know where it comes from: in general, those responsible are public officials, sometimes linked to organized crime. "
The Mexican situation thus leads the entire Latin America zone to compete with the Middle East and its fratricidal wars in the list of the most dangerous regions of the world for journalism. “ Here, adds Balbina Flores, the political-crime border is often blurred, especially in the most remote areas. Mexico is gradually losing ground to organized crime. Some areas have become information black holes. "
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RSF report journalists murdered: Mexico pinned 12/17/2019 - by Alix Hardy Play
■ RSF 2019 report: key data for the year
Worldwide, the number of journalists killed fell almost in half in 2019, according to RSF's annual report, which suggests a " historically low " level, linked to less deadly conflict zones than in 2018.
Some 46 colleagues and three sisters were killed this year, according to the NGO, against 80 in 2018. In detail, there are 36 professional journalists, 10 non-professionals and three collaborators. Over 60% have been knowingly targeted.
It should be noted that no journalist lost his life during a report abroad, all of the killed having been in their own country, as Agence France-Presse notes on the basis of RSF annual report.
389 journalists detained
Concerning the number of journalists imprisoned worldwide for having exercised their function, they were 389 in 2019 (+ 12%). The proportion of women among all journalists detained remains the same as in 2018, namely 8%.
This figure " does not include journalists arbitrarily arrested for a few hours, a few days, or even several weeks ", points RSF, which notes " a multiplication of this type of arrest " this year.
The cause: " Protests and protest movements that are popping up all over the world, especially in Algeria, Hong Kong , where attacks on journalists are increasing, as in Chile and Bolivia. "
Almost half of the journalist prisoners, or 186 out of 389, are detained in only three countries: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia. China alone holds a third of the world's prisoners, regrets the NGO.
Finally, according to RSF, at least 57 journalists are held hostage worldwide, a number almost identical to that of 2018. The hostages are still concentrated in the same four countries: Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Ukraine .
There have been no notable releases this year despite major changes in Syria, raising fears of the worst for many, said RSF. However, no journalist was missing during 2019.