The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) appealed to governments across the world to do more to end violence against journalists after revealing that 108 reporters were killed in 2013.

The 23rd annual IFJ list showed that the deadliest region for journalists was Asia Pacific, with 31 killings.

Violence and corruption in the Philippines, insurgency in Pakistan, and terrorism and organized crime in Iraq and India have accounted for high fatalities of journalists in these countries.

IFJ statistics also reveal that many journalists were deliberately targeted because of their work and with the clear intention to silence them.

Christopher Warren, Federal Secretary at the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance told Radio Australia, “In Philippines today there’s a criminal underclass targeting journalists often in cooperation with corrupt authorities.”

“In Pakistan journalists often get caught between terrorist groups and criminal gangs. What brings it all together is that some groups see journalists as a threat and see targeting them as a way of advancing their goals.”

Last month, representatives of Australian Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, the US Broadcasting Board of Governors, Deutsche Welle, France Médias Monde, Japan Broadcasting Corporation and Radio Netherlands Worldwide said in a joint statement that: “Increasing violence and intimidation against journalists mean that the work of international broadcasters is being impeded.  We are deeply concerned that in some parts of the world acts and threats of violence against journalists are growing in scale and intensity.”