UNESCO New Zealand

3 May 2010

May 3rd has been officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly as World Press Freedom Day.

All around the world on this day, supporters of media freedom celebrate the fundamental principles of press and media freedom that are articulated in Article 19 of the University Declaration of Human Rights.

From the Pacific Islands to Europe, from the continent of Africa to the countries of Asia, from the Americas to the United Kingdom, media workers and their supporters hold a myriad of events to celebrate the day.

World Press Freedom Day's annual conference is held in a different location each year and this year the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia holds the honour.

UNESCO's promotes freedom of expression and freedom of the press as a basic human right, through lobbying and monitoring activities.  It highlights media independence and pluralism as fundamental to the process of democracy by providing advisory services on media legislation and by making governments, parliamentarians and other decision-makers aware of the need to guarantee free expression.

UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2010

UNESCO & Freedom of the Press