World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day, established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1993 is celebrated on 3rd of May as to remind the public of the unavoidable role of the media and media employees in building and preservation of democracy.
The better flow of information the more possibilities are opened for fostering the living conditions. Media have to be responsible promoters of the truth and peace that represents a big challenge.

Free and independent media are associated with a series of positive results being extremely important for the eradication of poverty and which include a respect and strengthening of fundamental human rights, strengthening of civil society, institutional change, political transparency, support to education, consciousness about the public health (like educational campaigns about HIV and AIDS) as well as sustainable way of life.

UNESCO, as the only United Nations agency dealing with promotion of freedom of media and freedom of expression awards the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. The prize is named in honor of Guillermo Cano, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in 1987 following a series of articles on activities of powerful drug trafficking mafias in his country.