EMN
Dimapur, May 2
Every year, 3 May 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. The day is marked as World Press Freedom Day.
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.
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 indifferent parts of world every year. The international day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26thSession of UNESCO’s general conference in 1991.
In 2016, World Press Freedom Day coincides with three important milestones the 250th anniversary of the world’s first freedom of information law, covering both modern-day Sweden and Finland. The year 2016 is also the first year of the 15 year life-cycle of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year’s WPFD focuses on three different aspects of press freedom, freedom of information as a fundamental freedom and as human right, protecting press freedom from censorship and surveillance overreach, ensuring safety for journalism online and offline.
Since 1992, about 38 journalists have been killed, motives to which are said to have been confirmed, in India, says the global media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. It is made up of about 40 experts around the world, with headquarters in New York City.
When press freedom violations occur, CPJ mobilizes a network of correspondents who report and take action on behalf of those targeted. CPJ reports on violations in repressive countries, conflict zones, and established democracies alike. A board of prominent journalists from around the world helps to guide CPJ’s activities.
