A United Nations report has highlighted a historic 10 per cent decline in global freedom of expression between 2012 and 2024, primarily attributing it to increased attacks on journalists in real life and online, rising self-censorship and shrinking space for critical voices.The report also emphasized that free, independent, pluralistic and professional journalism is essential for democracy and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The report, published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), covered the period from 2022 to 2025.”The V-Dem Global Freedom of Expression Index has declined by 10 per cent over the past decade, a clear sign of weakening press freedom, despite some limited positive trends,” it said.The V-Dem Global Freedom of Expression Index, produced by the Varieties of Democracy Institute, measures the extent to which governments respect press freedom, media independence, academic or cultural expression and public discussion.According to the report, the combined political and social pressures have weakened media freedom, pluralism and diversity. It also notes that over the past two years, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence has further marginalised the value and visibility of traditional media.The report also highlighted growing threats to safety of journalists, with women journalists being disproportionately targeted. New research carried out by the International Center for Journalists’ (ICFJ) for UN Women, in partnership with UNESCO revealed that 75 per cent of women journalists and media workers experienced online violence while performing their jobs in 2025, up from 73 per cent in 2020.Commenting on the report, Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General, said, “Freedom of expression and information is not an option: it is the very condition for lasting peace. Faced with a historic regression, we must act together to protect and defend everyone’s right to think, write and inform. UNESCO will continue leading global efforts to strengthen pluralism and ensure that diversity is not only protected but actively fostered.”The report also sounded the alarm that in the same period, self-censorship increased significantly among journalists, rising 63 per cent, at a rate of about 5 per cent per year.During the reporting period (2022-2025), 186 journalists were killed while covering wars and conflict zones, a 67 per cent increase compared to the previous period covered by the report (2018-2021). In 2025 alone, 93 journalists have been killed, of these 60 were killed in conflict zones, it added.Despite international commitments to end impunity for killing journalists, accountability is rare. While there has been modest progress, with impunity rates dropping from 95 per cent in 2012 to 85 per cent in 2024, most perpetrators still go unpunished.”Environmental reporters now face a heightened risk. UNESCO recorded 749 attacks on journalists covering environmental issues between 2009 and 2023, with a sharp rise in recent years,” it said.Despite the severity of the global decline in freedom of expression, meaningful progress is being made. Between 2020 and 2025, 1.5 billion people gained access to social media and messaging platforms, expanding opportunities for civic participation worldwide.On a positive note, the report also mentioned that collaborative investigative journalism has gained momentum during this period – leading to an increase in important cross-border investigations. Fact-checking units are growing at many media organisations. And laws recognising community media are increasing globally, helping to safeguard a vital source of trusted local information.