#pressfreedom

Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.

"On World Press Freedom Day, I call for an end to all crackdowns against journalists – because a free press advances peace and justice for all." — António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General

This year's World Press Freedom Day theme is Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies - read more in the UNESCO Concept note