May 3rd of Every year is organised as World Press Freedom Day by the United Nations(UN) General Assembly with the recommendation of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) all over the world since 1993 to commemorate the Declaration of Windhoek and to provide broader public discussion of the challenges of press freedom and journalist’s safety of the Journalists, civil society representatives, national authorities, academics. The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Conference is Journalism without Fear or Favour.
Key Points:
i.This day reminds the governments of the need to respect the freedom of the press and reflect upon the issues faced by the professionals.
ii.Provides an opportunity on celebrating the fundamental principles of press freedom, asses the state of press freedom throughout the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence, and to pay tribute to the journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
iii.This year the national and local celebrations for this day all around the world in online debates and workshops due to COVID-19 pandemic.
iv.The Host of this years event was the Netherlands and the events that were scheduled to happen in April at the World Forum in the Hague are postponed to October due to COVID-19.
v.The UNESCO plays a role on this day through the UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, Colombian journalist assassinated by drug gangs outside his newspaper El Espectador’s office in 1986 since 1997 this is awarded to a press member who withstands the media oppression and danger and commits to the freedom of the press.
vi.India drops two points from its 2019 rank and ranks 142 in World Press Freedom Index which is compiled and published by the Reporters without borders based on organisations assessment of the countries press freedom.
May 3 acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and a reflection to media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
- The conference will be a joint celebration of World Press Freedom Day (May 3) and the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (November 2).
- The sub-themes for this year :
- Safety of Women and Men Journalists and Media Workers
- Independent and Professional Journalism free from Political and Commercial Influence
- Gender Equality in All Aspect of the Media
About Reporters without border:
Chairman– Pierre Haski
Vice President– Frederic Filloux
Secretary-General– Christophe Deloire
Headquarters– Paris, France
