World Press Freedom Day

On May 3, 1993, the UN General Assembly declared World Press Freedom Day under the influence of UNESCO, which at that time was actively defending media independence.

The presence of free media in a country is a guarantee of lasting democracy and freedom of speech.

The UN General Assembly also adopted the Windhoek Declaration, which ensures the independence of the media at the international level.

The media is the fourth branch of government, it is through them that we learn information, no one can deny that the media was crucial for the developing democracy.

In 2021, the international organization “Reporters Without Borders”, ranked Ukraine 97th. According to a 2020 report by the Institute of Mass Media in Ukraine, there had been at least 170 attacks on journalists. From January to March 2021, the National Police opened 11 criminal proceedings for offenses committed against journalists, including: assault, denial of access, beating, vandalism and burning of automobiles.

UN Secretary-General Antonina Guterres said that “crimes against journalists have a huge impact on society as a whole because they prevent people from making informed decisions.” Journalists face many other threats, from kidnappings, torture and arbitrary detention, to disinformation and harassment campaigns, especially in the digital sphere.

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