What is World Press Freedom Day? Know why and how it is celebrated

World Press Freedom Day, as name suggests is all about honouring freedom of journalism and power of media across world. World Press Freedom Day, popularly known as World Press Day, is celebrated every year on May 3, 2020. It is a day to raise awareness regarding importance of freedom of press.

Significance of World Press Freedom Day

 United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day to honour freedom of press and remind governments of ir duty to respect and abide by rights to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This also marks  anniversary of  Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put toger by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991. World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost ir lives in exercise of ir profession.

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History of World Press Freedom Day

May 3 was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation opted at twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991. It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom - a reminder that in dozens of countries around world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered. It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom and to assess state of press freedom worldwide.

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World Press Freedom Day: Celebrations and me

A particular me for every year is decided by UNESCO for celebration of World Press Freedom Day. A particular city where main celebration takes place decides me for day. Last year in 2019, Ethiopia decided me for World Press Freedom Day, it was, "Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”.

UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day by conferring  UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize on a deserving individual, organisation or institution that has me an outstanding contribution to defense and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in world, especially when this has been achieved in face of danger. 

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director-general of UNESCO issued a message regarding me for World Press Freedom Day 2020.

He stated. " At a time when we are mired in worry and uncertainty because of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, free information is essential to helping us face, understand, think about and overcome this crisis. This is why Organization has teamed up with rest of United Nations family to fight “infodemic” of rumours and disinformation which is exacerbating pandemic and putting lives at risk. To help put an end to problem, we have joined forces to promote two major social-media campaigns, Toger for Facts, Science and Solidarity and Don’t Go Viral."

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