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Registrations now open: World Press Freedom Day 2019, Addis Ababa
23 January 2019
UNESCO will celebrate the 26th edition of World Press Freedom Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 2-3 May 2019. Jointly organized by UNESCO, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union Commission, the global celebration will be held at the Headquarters of the African Union.
The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is ‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation’. Accordingly, the two-day international conference will serve as an opportunity to explore and discuss new issues and obstacles facing the press in electoral times, as well as the media’s capacity to help build a culture of peace and reconciliation. The Day will also examine concerns such as the safety of journalists (both online and offline), and how we can better push back against a growing climate of disinformation. Online registration for the event is available here.
The main celebration in Addis Ababa will feature two plenaries, various breakout sessions, a youth newsroom, a photo exhibition, a cartoon exhibition, a film screening. In addition, UNESCO in collaboration with a local university (tbc) is organizing its annual Academic Conference on the safety of journalists. We are pleased to announce that call for papers are now open. Please find more information here. The deadline for submissions is 21 February.
Pre-events will be organized by partner organizations on 1 May at the Headquarters of UNECA.
Submissions for nominations for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2019 are also open. Eligible candidates are individuals, organizations or institutions who have made a significant contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, and especially in the face of danger. Applications can be submitted by regional and international NGOs in English or French by 15 February. Click here for more information on the nomination process.
Alongside the main celebration of Word Press Freedom Day in Addis Ababa, national events will be organized all around the world.
Related links:
For more information contact: Saorla McCabe (UNESCO HQ) s.mccabe@unesco.org ; Lydiah Gachungi (UNESCO Addis Ababa) l.gachungi@unesco.org
For more information about the Academic Conference contact: Sandra Sharman (UNESCO HQ) s.sharman@unesco.org