T hroughout the world, May 3 now serves as an occasion to inform the public of violations of the right to freedom of expression and as a reminder that many journalists brave death or jail to bring people their daily news. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which coordinates activities each year on May 3, World Press Freedom Day is:

  • a day of action to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of the freedom of the press;

  • a day to assess the state of press freedom worldwide;

  • a day to remind governments to respect their commitments to press freedom;

  • a day to alert the public and to increase awareness of the importance of freedom of the press;

  • a day of reflection to encourage debate among media professionals on the issues of press freedom and professional ethics;

  • a day of remembrance for journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession; and

  • a day of support for media which fall victim to any measures which restrain, or seek to abolish, freedom of the press.