Tag Archives: World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day 3 May 2016

wpfd2016World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. It is an opportunity to: celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 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 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration of press freedom principles; The year 2016 is also the first year of the 15 year life-cycle of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UN Secretary-General’s Message on the Day

Group picTo mark the Day UNESCO Dhaka Office organized a seminar  titled, ‘The State of Press Freedom in Bangladesh: Challenges and Way Forward’ at CIRDAP auditorium on 3 May 2016. UNESCO Representative Ms Beatrice Kaldun delivered the introductory speech while Chief Information Commissioner Prof Dr Md Golam Rahman Spoke as chief guest. The key-note paper was presented by Prof Dr Abu J M Shafiul Alam Bhaiyan. Among others Advocate Sultana Kamal and Toufique Imrose Khalidi spoke on the occasion. UNIC Officer-in-Charge was present in the seminar. Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) and ICS co-organized the event.

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Joint Message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and  UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2015:

Let Journalism Thrive!

This is the theme of World Press Freedom Day this year.

In 2015, States are accelerating to reach the Millennium Development Goals and shaping a new global sustainable development agenda. Freedom of expression and press freedom are essential to success at every level.

For peace to be lasting and development to be sustainable, human rights must be respected. Everyone must be free to seek, receive and impart knowledge and information on all media, online and offline. Quality journalism enables citizens to make informed decisions about their society’s development. It also works to expose injustice, corruption, and the abuse of power. Continue reading

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2014

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Each year on World Press Freedom Day, we reaffirm our commitment to the fundamental freedom to receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers, enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Yet every day of the year sees this right under assault.

Journalists are singled out for speaking or writing uncomfortable truths – kidnapped, detained, beaten and sometimes murdered. Such treatment is completely unacceptable in a world ever more reliant on global news outlets and the journalists who serve them.

In conflict areas, journalists often wear blue uniforms and helmets so that they can be easily identified and protected against attack. As we know from the UN’s own peacekeeping operations, the colour blue provides no guarantee of safety.

Last year 70 journalists were killed, many caught in the cross-fire of armed hostilities. Fourteen more have suffered the same fate this year. Continue reading