Each year, May 3rd is the date which 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.

 May 3rd was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day the UN General Assembly in 1993.It serves as an opportunity to inform the world of violations of press freedom – a reminder that in dozens of countries around the globe, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.

It serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

 To learn more visit the websites for these organizations fighting to protect press freedoms every day:

Reporters Without Borders

Article 19

Committee to Protect Journalists

International Federation of Journalists