Topic Overview- Hostility Towards Journalists

Journalism is a crucial component of sustainable development, democratic accountability, and the protection of human rights across the world.  While journalism is a essential profession, it is also a dangerous one. According to the International Federation of Journalists, 128 journalists and media workers lost their lives in 2025 alone. Furthermore, according to a UNESCO report in 2019, 90% of perpetrators of murders of journalists go unpunished worldwide. 2025 was a deadly year for journalists, as geopolitical tensions rise and new criminal and paramilitary groups emerge, journalists face extreme risks abroad and at home. Only two foreign journalists were killed in 2025, all of the other murdered journalists reported news in their home countries.  

SOCHUM delegates, you have been tasked with finding possible solutions to a complex problem from the perspective of countries whose beliefs may differ from your own. Violence against journalists is a serious and complex issue of global importance that will require productive debate, collaboration, and dedication. 

Background Guide- Coming soon