WPFD

World Press Freedom Day

3 May

3 May acts 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 pursuit of a story.

World Press Freedom Day 2025 Signature Event: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media

This year the World Press Freedom Day global commemoration will focus on the profound influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism and media under the theme: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media. 

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Register to the signature event

Join us in Brussels on 7 May at Bozar, Center for Fine Arts.

Celebrations around the world

UNESCO invites organizations to organize national and regional commemorations.

OLD World Press Freedom Day 2025 Signature Event: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media

This year the World Press Freedom Day global commemoration will focus on the profound influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism and media under the theme: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.

Download the visual identity in 6 UN languages

World Press Freedom Day 2025: reporting in the Brave New World: the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media; Concept Note; Executive Summary
UNESCO
World Press Freedom Day International Conference
2025
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OLD Academic conference

If you are an academic interested in topics such as freedom of expression and safety of journalists, register to the Global Conference to attend the academic conference, which will take place on 4 May 2024.

Pablo Rogat

Get Involved

History of the International Day

Every year, 3 May is a 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. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a  in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark .

What UNESCO does to #ProtectJournalists

UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Prize
Safety of Journalists
UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists
UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists
The Santiago Declaration
The Windhoek Declaration

OLD The Windhoek Declaration

The Windhoek Declaration is considered a benchmark for ensuring press freedom around the world. It all began at a seminar in Windhoek, Namibia in 1991. 

Windhoeak Seminar

Resources

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
Previous Edition
All International days
Guidelines for the governance of digital platforms

Summary

Previous Editions

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