World Press Freedom Day

Press freedom requires safe access for credible news gathering to build trust in a fractured world , says Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications.

Event: Melbourne Landmarks in Blue. Organizer: Ink‑Stained Wretches. Date: 3 May 2026. Description: To mark the World Press Freedom Day, iconic Melbourne landmarks will be illuminated in blue as part of the Spotlight Press Freedom Campaign led by the advocacy group Ink‑Stained Wretches. Melbourne Town Hall will be lit in blue on the night, joined by Federation Square, which will also be fully illuminated in blue. Federation Square will host a free public screening of All the President’s Men on the big screen from 8:00 pm, with an official event listing published on the Federation Square website ahead of the event. RMIT journalism students will be on site throughout the evening to document the activations, capturing photographs, video footage, and producing social media content to amplify the message of press freedom and the role of journalism in democracy. Type of meeting: In person. Audience type: Open meeting.

Afghanistan Event: Commemorating World Press Freedom Day in Kabul Organizer: Afghan Journalists Date: 3 May 2026. Description: A gathering bringing together journalists and media stakeholders to promote press freedom, discuss key challenges, and encourage dialogue on improving the media environment in Afghanistan. Type of meeting: In Person. Audience type: Closed meeting. Location: Kabul, Afghanistan.

As the United Nations celebrates World Press Freedom Day. We will showcase this year’s theme “ A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis ”. We will be hosting the film " Under The Dome ", a powerful documentary on the consequences of air pollution. This film has been banned in China for fear of collective action by the public. The film is directed by journalist, Chai Jing. The screening will be followed by a Panel discussion and Q&A session on press freedom, environmental issues and the need for urgent action on climate change with experts: Bill Code (documentary maker specialiszing in environmental and social justice films) Kara Ortiga (PhD candidate on press freedom in the Phillipines)  Fahimah Badrulhisham (Climate activist) Lesley Hughes (expert in Climate Change; Pro-Chancellor at Macquarie University) PROGRAMME: 5:30 pm - Doors Open/Registration. 6:00 pm - Acknowledgement of Country and Introductory remarks. 6:10 pm - 'Under The...

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3 MAY   Closed sessions 13:00 - 14:00 (CET)  | 08:00 - 09:00 (UYT) (Online session) Priority Africa : Regional Celebration in Africa /WPFD Convention in Arusha presenting the highlights of an ongoing assessment report on press freedom and the safety of journalists in Afri ca –  by UNESCO   14:00 - 0:30 (CET)  | 09:00 - 19:30 (UYT) Regional United Nations Workshop on Freedom of Expression, Safety of Journalists and Access to Information –  by UNESCO and the United Nations System Staff College   14:00 - 18:00 (CET)  |  09:00 - 13:00 (UYT)  Critical Voices Under Digital Siege –  by the Danish Institute for Human Rights 16:00 - 21:10 (CET)  |  11:00 - 16:10 (UYT)  Artistic freedom in the digital sphere –  by UNESCO and PEN America's Artist at Risk Connection (ARC) ,   CECC-SICA , with the support of the Kingdom of Norway   Parallel Sessions 14:00 - 15:00 (CET)  | 09:00 - 10:00 (UYT) Medi...

4 MAY Closed sessions 14:00 - 16:30 (CET)  | 09:00 - 11:30 (UYT) Closed meeting: Ten years of the UN Plan on Safety of Journalists : How can we – from a multi-stakeholder view – improve? -  by the CSO Coalition on the Safety of Journalists   14:00 - 18:30 (CET)  | 09:00 - 13:00 (UYT) Closed Session: Regional United Nations Workshop on Freedom of Expression, Safety of Journalists and Access to Information –  by UNESCO and the United Nations System Staff College  Closed Session: A roundtable discussion with women journalists on practical solutions to deal with online harassment –  by Free Press Unlimited   Parallel Sessions 14:00 - 15:00 (CET)  | 09:00 - 10:00 (UYT) Ensuring a diversity of free voices in the media –  by UNESCO Regional Event: Meeting of LAC journalists' organisations on journalism under surveillance -   by FEPALC, IFJ and APU Freedom of Expression  during Conflicts - curbing of war-related disi...

5 MAY   - Full day tour to Colonia del Sacramento. Field Trip to Colonia del Sacramento, the first city founded in Uruguay by the Portuguese in 1680 and declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1995.   09:00  - Departure from the official conference hotels in Montevideo. Buses with guide on board, water and snacks. Reception in the Historic District by the authorities of the Municipality and the bilingual guides. Exact arrival point for bus parking: Odriozola near the city wall. 11:00  - Guided walking tour through the historic center of Colonia del Sacramento 12:00  - Lunch on your own at any of the many restaurants in the historic center (unless invited). 15:30  - Transfer to Plaza de Toros Real de San Carlos. Guided tour. 16:45  - Transfer from Plaza de Toros to Centro Cultural Bastión del Carmen (Rivadavia 223) 18:00 - 18:30  - Performance by the SODRE Folkloric Ballet Schools at the Bastión del Carmen Cultural Center (Rivadavia 223). 18:40 - 20:4...

With a general decline in media freedom globally , some countries like Sierra Leone  have shown #commitment to work with media development actors.The target? Ensure a more enabling economic and political environment for media . Join online the 2022 #WorldPressFreedomDay Conference.

Together with the Universidad Católica , we're launching the Youth Newsroom covering the 2022 #WorldPressFreedomDay Global Conference; With Ana Ribeiro, Sub-secretary of Education and Culture in  Ministerio de Educación y Cultura , and director of  Instituto Nacional de la Jubentud in Uruguay.