The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO say the number of incidents of violence against journalists covering protests across the world has risen sharply.

UNESCO said it had counted 21 protests between January and June of this year where journalists were attacked, arrested or killed, with police and security forces the main culprits.

The organization, whose role includes monitoring media developments, said in a report the spike came as part of a wider upward trend in the use of unlawful force by police and security forces over the last five years.

At least 10 journalists were killed during protests between 2015 and mid-2020 when there were 125 instances of attacks on, or arrests of, reporters, according to UNESCO which investigated protests in 65 countries for the report.