UN calls for justice as Myanmar journalists face continued persecution

By Admin 02 Nov 2026

DMG Newsroom

2 November 2026, Yangon

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an end to impunity for crimes against journalists worldwide, as media professionals in Myanmar continue to face arrests, imprisonment, torture and threats to their safety.

Marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, Guterres warned that journalists remain vulnerable to violence and persecution simply for carrying out their work.

“Journalists continue to pay an outrageous price for telling the truth,” he said.

According to the UN chief, at least 34 journalists were killed worldwide over the past year, while six out of seven such killings go unpunished. In conflict-affected areas, the impunity rate approaches 100 percent.

Guterres said journalists face harassment, surveillance, lawsuits, physical attacks and imprisonment, with some subjected to torture or killed for their reporting.

He urged governments to investigate attacks, prosecute those responsible and address online threats against media workers, stressing that independent journalism is essential to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The warning comes amid continuing restrictions on press freedom in Myanmar, where journalists have faced arrests, lengthy prison sentences and intimidation since the military coup in February 2021.

According to Athan, a Myanmar-based freedom of expression advocacy organisation, 230 journalists have been arrested and 13 killed since the coup. Its monitoring data showed that 18 journalists remained detained as of September 30, 2026.

Of the documented arrests, 222 were attributed to Myanmar's military authorities and eight to other armed groups, Athan reported.

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), established by the UN Human Rights Council, has also highlighted threats facing journalists reporting on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Mechanism continues to investigate allegations of unlawful imprisonment and torture involving journalists, warning that such abuses may constitute serious international crimes.

In its August 2026 annual report, the IIMM documented evidence of arbitrary detention, torture and other serious abuses in military-run detention facilities. It is also investigating alleged crimes involving armed groups opposed to the military.

Many Myanmar journalists have been forced into exile, while those remaining inside the country face security threats, restricted access to information and pressure from armed actors.

The IIMM collects and preserves evidence of serious international crimes to support future legal proceedings, although it does not prosecute cases itself.

Established by the UN General Assembly in 2013, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists seeks to strengthen accountability and protection for media professionals.

The UN's appeal highlights the continuing need to protect independent journalism in Myanmar, where reporting on armed conflict and human rights abuses remains essential to public access to information and accountability.