World Press Freedom Day
The United Nations General Assembly declared World Press Freedom Day in December 1993, based on the recommendation of the UNESCO General Conference. The anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration has been celebrated worldwide since then on 3 May as World Press Freedom Day.
The history of World Press Freedom Day goes back to a conference held by UNESCO in Windhoek in 1991. The conference was held on 3 May with the adoption of the historic Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press. Thirty years after the adoption of this declaration, the historical relationship between the freedom to seek, impart and receive information on the one hand, and the public interest, on the other, is still of equal importance. A series of celebrations will be held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration during the International Conference on World Press Freedom Day.
May 3 is a reminder to governments of the necessity to respect their commitment of press freedom, and a day of reflection among media professionals on issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is an opportunity to:
- Celebrating the fundamental principles of press freedom
- Evaluating the state of press freedom around the world
- Defending the media from attacks on its independence
- Saluting the journalists who lost their lives while fulfilling their duties
