This is your right! Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms
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.
Over 100 national celebrations take place each year to commemorate this Day. UNESCO leads the worldwide celebration by identifying the global thematic and organizing the main event in different parts of world every year.
The international day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991. 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.
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2015
UNESCO in action
Events
UNESCO and the Government of Finland will co-host the World Press Freedom Day’s main event and the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize Ceremony in 2016 which will take place in Helsinki, Finland, from 2-4 May 2016.
- 2 to 4 May 2015:
Main event including the Opening Ceremony, Plenary Sessions, Parallel Roundtable Sessions, and the Award Ceremony of the prestigious UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Day will take place at the Finlandia Hall - 3 to 4 May 2015:
Research conference on the Safety of Journalists
UNESCO Research Agenda on Safety of Journalists
RESOURCES
- About World Press Freedom Day
- 2016 Themes
- Practical Information
- Concept Note: EN - FR (coming soon)
- Background Materials
CONTACT INFORMATION
- Sylvie Coudray
Chief of Section
Communication and Information Sector (CI)
Mail: s.coudray(at)unesco.org
Tel: 33-1 45 68 42 12
Fax: 33-1 45 68 55 84
- Tarja Turtia
Programme Specialist
Communication and Information Sector (CI)
Mail: t.turtia(at)unesco.org
Tel: 33-1 45 68 42 17
Fax: 33-1 45 68 55 84 - Gerwin De Roy
Consultant
Communication and Information Sector (CI)
Mail: g.de-roy(at)unesco.org
Tel: 33-1 45 68 04 48
Fax: 33-1 45 68 55 84