World Press Freedom Day 2011

Established in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly, World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is observed annually on May 3. The celebration of WPFD 2011 with the theme “21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers,” coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration for the promotion of free and pluralistic media.

Various events are taking place in over 100 countries worldwide to mark the observance. One of the highlights of the celebration is the presentation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)/ Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Created in 1997, the award is conferred annually on an individual or an organization/institution that has made an important contribution to the “defense and/or protection of press freedom, anywhere in the world, especially if it involved taking risks.”

UNESCO, in cooperation with the United States State Department and over 20 Civil Society partners, is holding an international conference on this year’s theme at the Newseum, a museum in Washington, DC, devoted to the history of the press and to freedom of expression worldwide. Discussions will delve on the increasing role of the Internet, the emergence of new media, and the dramatic rise in social networking. A special event is also slated to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration that “emphasizes the importance of an independent press for the development and preservation of democracy and economic development.”

UNESCO provides advisory services on media legislation, by making governments, lawmakers, and other decision makers more aware of the need to safeguard free expression. It supports independent media in zones of conflict to enable them to play an active role in conflict prevention and resolution, and in the transition towards a culture of peace.

As we observe World Press Freedom Day, we pay tribute to the men and women in the media profession for their commitment to keep the public informed of local, national, and global developments regardless of the threat to their lives and persons.