World Press Freedom Day – Statement by Jim Karygiannis, Member of Toronto City Council

May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day – a time to talk about violations of press freedom.

It is a time to remember that, in many countries around the world, the media is censored; fined; suspended and closed down; while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed; attacked; kidnapped; and, even murdered. Just as importantly, it is a time to encourage and develop initiatives in support of press freedom and to assess the state of press freedom throughout the world.

World Press Freedom Day was established in 1991 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Department of Public Information at a conference in Windhoek, Namibia. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states –
‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’
World Press Freedom Day is a time to reflect upon the sacrifices brave men and women have made, throughout the years, telling important stories about events that shape our world.