May 3 is World Press Freedom Day
World Press Freedom Day has been widely celebrated since May 3, 1994. This day was adopted on 20 December 1993 by the United Nations with a special Resolution, as well as at the suggestion of the Economic and Non-Governmental Organization. The organization chaired the 26th UNESCO General Conference on November 6, 1991. UNESCO's proposal for May 3 at this conference is not out of place. Because today is the day the Windhuk Declaration is adopted.
Every year, several letters from the UN Secretary-General are published on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day. The 2006 edition, on the other hand, emphasizes that the media should not serve anything, but should be free.
World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to understanding the importance of freedom of the press and freedom of speech.
World Press Freedom Day reminds the international community that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights every year. Free publishing and free access to information greatly contribute to addressing development issues by raising people’s awareness of the situation in the community. Thus, people have a great opportunity to actively participate in socio-political situations. A series of mass events and conferences are held in honor of the World Press Freedom Day in honor of journalists who died for their homeland.
In addition, today, journalists, representatives of the Press Freedom Organization and the United Nations are gathering to discuss the state of press freedom around the world and to find new ways to protect the press from a number of dangers.
Journalists and all writers have been awarded the UNESCO Special Prize every year since May 3, 1997 for their contribution to all publications.
Aysenem ATAYEVA,
the 3rd year student of the
Faculty of International Journalism
of the
Institute of International Relations
of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.