"Journalism provides a platform for informed discussion across a wide range of development issues – from environmental challenges and scientific progress to gender equality, youth engagement and peacebuilding. Only when journalists are at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticize policies and actions can good governance exist."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova
2014 Theme: Media Freedom for a Better Future:
Shaping the post-2015 Development Agenda
The focus of the year was on three inter-related themes: the media’s importance in development; the safety of journalists and the rule of law; and the sustainability and integrity of journalism. An international conference was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 5-6 May.
The annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize ceremony took place on 2 May 2014 at UNESCO Headquarters.
Messages for 2014
- UN Secretary-General
- UN General Assembly President
- Joint Message by the UN Secretary-General and the UNESCO Director-General