May 3: World Press Freedom Day

“The rights to life and to liberty and integrity and security of person and also to freedom of expression are fundamental human rights that are recognized and guaranteed by international conventions and instruments.” (UNESCO Resolution, General Conference 1997)

May 3rd is the annual World Press Freedom Day. This year’s theme is violence against journalists. MediaChannel has put together this special coverage package with resources for those concerned about freedom of the press.

UNESCO is celebrating World Press Freedom Day in Medellin, Colombia, where the 2007 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize is being awarded posthumously to the slain Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Read more…

You can read Rory O’Connor’s report on World Press Freedom Day here: The Price of Press Freedom

Background information on World Press Freedom Day is available on UNESCO’s website.

World Association of Newspapers: World Press Freedom Day Website

Reporters Without Borders 2007 Press Freedom Survey
The survey reports on press freedom in 98 countries and includes the main violations of journalists’ rights in 2006 and regional aspects of media and Internet freedom.

U.S. Gravely Concerned About Global Killings of Journalists
The United States remains “gravely concerned” about the intimidation and murders of journalists worldwide, including the October 2006 killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. In an April 30 statement, the State Department said the United States also is concerned about “increasing limitations on press freedoms around the world.”

CPJ: Top 10 World Backsliders of Press Freedom
The backsliders reflect a mixture of relatively open countries that have turned increasingly repressive and traditionally restrictive nations where press conditions, remarkably, have worsened.

Database of Journalists Killed 1992-2006
Since 1992, the Committee to Protect Journalists has compiled detailed accounts of every journalist killed on duty worldwide.

Database of Journalists in Prison as of December ‘06

Database of Journalists Missing
CPJ research indicates that the following journalists have disappeared while doing their work. Although some of them are feared dead, no bodies have been found, and they are therefore not classified as “Killed.”

International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) is covering press freedom events happening worldwide:

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENTS IN AFRICA
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENTS IN THE AMERICAS
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENTS IN ASIA-PACIFIC
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENTS IN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

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