May 3 — World Press Freedom Day: history and traditions of the holiday
Every year on May 3, the international community celebrates World Press Freedom Day, which recalls the key role of the media in building democratic societies, the threats faced by editorial offices, as well as the right of journalists to protection. In 2025, this date falls on a Saturday. Read about its history and traditions in the Izvestia article.
World Press Freedom Day – 2025: the history of the holiday's establishment
World Press Freedom Day was established in December 1993 by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of the 26th session of the UNESCO General Conference.
This decision was preceded by the active activity of African journalists who sought the right to independent professional activity. Thanks to their initiative, the Windhoek Declaration was signed in the capital of Namibia on May 3, 1991, which became a serious step towards recognizing freedom of speech as a universal principle of a democratic society.
The document says that a free and open press is an integral part of democratic processes, a counterweight to abuses of power and a guarantor of citizens' access to reliable information.
The date of the signing of the Windhoek Declaration was chosen by the UN as World Press Freedom Day. And the principles outlined in it formed the basis for the annual events taking place on May 3 around the world. They aim to raise public awareness of the media freedom situation, as well as to develop solutions that can strengthen the independence of journalism and protect it from harassment.
Traditions of the World Press Freedom Day
Every year since 1994, a specific topic relevant to the current situation in society has been chosen to celebrate World Press Freedom Day. Over the years, they have sounded like this: "Mass media as a driving force for change" (2006), "New Voices: Media Freedom helps transform society" (2012), "Information as a public good" (2021), "Digital Journalism" (2022), "Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis" (2024).
In 2025, the topic concerns the impact of artificial intelligence on the free dissemination of information, ensuring access to it, as well as on the independence of the media and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
The central event of the holiday is the presentation of the UNESCO World Prize for Contribution to the development of a free press named after Guillermo Cano (a Colombian journalist who exposed corruption and crime and died in 1986 for his activities). This award highlights how high the risks can be for those who defend the public's right to reliable information.
Since 1997, it has been awarded to journalists and organizations who have shown exceptional courage and professionalism in defending press freedom. In 2007, the prize was awarded to Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was awarded the award posthumously.
How World Press Freedom Day is celebrated in Russia and the world
Every year, UNESCO organizes international conferences within the framework of World Press Freedom Day, which are attended by journalists, editors, human rights defenders, representatives of the academic community and government agencies. These meetings serve as a platform for discussing both acute political and legal issues, as well as technological and economic challenges facing modern media.
On May 3, the international community also honors the memory of media personnel who died in the line of duty. According to UNESCO, 1,762 journalists have been killed worldwide since 1993, indicating that the profession remains dangerous.
Also, on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, the international organization Committee to Protect Journalists analyzes the relations between the press and government in various countries and sends letters to heads of state describing problems in the media that are worth paying attention to.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of Russian Press Day.
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