France, Nov. 2 -- According to the United Nations cultural body Unesco, more than 1,600 journalists have been murdered worldwide over the last twenty years - a 20 percent increase in the past three years.

In its latest report "Threats evolve. Impunity endures", published on Monday, Unesco warns that 86 percent of crimes against the press remain unpunished.

Nine out of ten victims are local journalists.

"It is often in countries not currently in conflict - where the murders of journalists are linked more to criminal circles, mafia-like groups and organised crime - that we have seen greater efforts on the part of the authorities to eliminate this impunity," Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, told RF...