May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day
World Press Freedom Day celebrates its 20th anniversary on 3rd May.
World Press Freedom Day celebrates its 20th anniversary on 3rd May
World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is celebrated annually on 3 May to commemorate the fundamental principles of media freedom, to highlight long-standing and emerging threats to that freedom and to pay tribute to journalists and activists who have risked their safety to advance the public’s access to news and information.
This year, WPFD celebrates its 20th anniversary; the day was first officially proclaimed during the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media”. This theme highlights the issues of safety of journalists, combating impunity for crimes against freedom of expression, and securing a free and open Internet as the precondition for safety online.
Freedom of expression is fundamental to building democracy. Citizens must be allowed to discuss and debate issues, to challenge their governments and make informed decisions. Journalists, bloggers, media organisations and individuals must be allowed to operate and to express themselves freely and safely and within international standards. Governments need to respond to legitimate aspirations with reform not repression. Encouraging an open and effective press serves to improve the environment for long-term social, political and economic stability.