UNESCO celebrates the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) with an international conference at its Headquarters in Paris from 5 to 6 May 2014.

Every year, the World Press Freedom Day, which falls on 3 May, reminds us the need to create a free, independent and pluralistic media environment. This year’s celebration focuses on the global theme “Reaching New Goals: Free media fortifies the post-2015 Development Agenda”.

The conference itself will focus on the interrelated issues of the role of free media in strengthening good governance and sustainable development, the safety of journalists as a prerequisite element of the rule of law, access to information and transparency.

World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated in about 100 countries globally, will highlight the need to include freedom of speech and access to independent media and information in post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.

The annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize ceremony will take place on 2 May 2014 at UNESCO Headquarters.

The event registration page, concept note, tentative agenda and other general information are available online at http://www.unesco.org/webworld/en/wpfd.

 Source: UNESCO