NEW YORK (The South Asia Times report) - The United Nations said that at least 55 journalist were killed in 2021 across the world during performing their duties.

In a statement, the issued by the UN, said that their data showed that nearly nine in 10 killings since 2006 still unresolved

Impunity is “alarmingly widespread”, said the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“Once again in 2021, far too many journalists paid the ultimate price to bring truth to light”, said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

“Right now, the world needs independent, factual information more than ever. We must do more to ensure that those who work tirelessly to provide this can do so without fear.”

Although the number of victims stands at its lowest for a decade, UNESCO underlined the many dangers that reporters face in trying to cover stories and expose wrongdoing.

In 2021, as in previous years, journalists faced high rates of imprisonment, physical attack, intimidation and harassment, including when reporting on protests.

Most deaths in 2021 occurred in just two regions, Asia-Pacific – with 23 killings, and Latin America and the Caribbean – with 14.

According to the statement, the Women journalists continue to be particularly at risk as they are subjected to “a shocking prevalence of harassment online”, UNESCO said, citing data which showed that nearly three-quarters of female media professionals surveyed had experienced online violence linked to their work.

Recently in India several Muslim women journalists came under online harassment when the Hindu extremist group posted their pictures for online auction.

The move widely criticised in India and across the world where later the police arrested one man who was running the dirty app to harassed Muslim women journalists who are speaking against the ongoing hate speeches of ruling BJP leaders against the minorities in India.

Journalist in Afghanistan also faced huge difficulties as most of them fled the country following Taliban took over Kabul in August last year.

Recently, the terrorists organisation ISIS, also known as ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan also threatened a prominent Pakistani journalist.

According to Pakistani media, the terrorist group recently issued life threat to a prominent Pakistani journalist Islamuddin Sajid who covers the region for international media.

Sajid, regional chief correspondent of the Turkish global news agency, Anadolu Agency, for Asia-Pacific has recently reported on the terrorist group move to hiring jobless Afghans to strengthen its foot in the war-torn country.

According to official he was threatened after he filed a report on Daesh terrorist group for hiring jobless young Afghans after the war-torn country hit by the economic crisis.

In 2009, the TTP, a terrorist group of Pakistani Taliban also had carried out attack on Sajid house in his native village of Maidan Dir Lower and injured his brother and sister, according to Pakistani media report, Asia Free Press reported.

While in 2012, TTP again targeted him in Mardan district but he survived in that attack.