The World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on May 3 2018 across the United Nations, to spread awareness and information about the importance of the freedom of press, and to upheld the freedom of expressions, which is mentioned under the Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, which is a statement, that announced the principle of the free press, and was compiled by the African journalists in Windhoek, 1991. On this day, UNESCO also holds a prize ceremony and grants Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to the exceptional journalists, and their work, which has made a significant impact on the world. This year, it was presented to Egyptian photographer Mahmoud Abu Zeid, also known as Shawkan, who has been in jail since 2013. He had covered the demonstrations of the police forces and the supporters of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi at Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square in Cairo, Egypt.
The day is an occasion to remember that the press media holds much importance for the public, because it is their window to information that they aren’t privy to, and have to rely on strong sources that serve as a channel to bring accurate and specific news, which will help them navigate their lives during the time of crisis, and make it easier to find out options.
The press also helps in reaching out to areas that are not hospitable for people, or which have seen conflict and can’t be assessed by the population. They are also known to go in territories with heavy military control, and where the government can’t have a spokesperson, only to bring us the most up-to-date news and information about what if happening around in the world and around us.
"Every individual has the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek and receive information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers" – #HumanRights Declaration, Article 19.
3 May is #WorldPressFreedomDay
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— UNESCO (@UNESCO) May 2, 2018
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