More than 700 journalists have been killed in the last decade - one every five days - according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, unmultimedia.org website reported.
In marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Monday, the UN chief highlighted the urgent need to do more to protect journalists; and bring those who harm members of the media to justice.
This year's annual commemoration of the international day on crimes against journalists was dedicated to two French journalists assassinated in Mali in November 2013.
With hundreds of journalists having been killed in the line of duty in the last decade, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said more must be done to ensure the safety of journalists around the world.
Mr Ban said ending the impunity that often exists when a journalist is murdered would be instrumental to that effort. Only 7 per cent of such cases are resolved, he said, with less than 10 per cent even fully investigated.
Such impunity deepens fear among journalists and enables Governments to carry out censorship, said Mr Ban.