The annual total stood at 40 in the federation’s first year of counting, 1990, but has not dipped under the 100-mark since 2010.

“The last ten years were the most dangerous,” said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger in an interview, with 2006 the worst year of all with 155 killed.

And despite vows of protection from as high as the United Nations, the IFJ said it produced the report “25 years of contribution towards safer journalism” to underscore a worsening climate of impunity which has helped killers get away with murder and turn journalists into soft targets.

“The IFJ estimates that only one of ten killings is investigated,” the report said, with actual convictions lower still.

“That is the diplomatic issue. Let’s stop the impunity that protects the killers,” Bellanger said.