• The United Nations observes World Press Freedom Day on May 3. 

• World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. 

• Since then, May 3, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek has been celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.

• Over the years, the historic connection made between the freedom to seek, impart and receive information and the public good remains as relevant as it was at the time of its signing. 

• May 3 acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. 

It is an opportunity to:

i) Celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom.

ii) Assess the state of press freedom throughout the world.

iii) Defend the media from attacks on their independence.

iv) Pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Windhoek  Declaration

• The Declaration of Windhoek is a statement of free press principles as put together by newspaper journalists in Africa during a UNESCO seminar on “Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press” in Windhoek, Namibia, from April 29 to May 3, 1991.

• The 1991 Windhoek Declaration was the subject of a resolution at the 26th session of the UNESCO General Conference, and in 1993, the 48th UNGA session proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.

• The 1991 Windhoek Declaration has acted as a benchmark and catalyst for advancing press freedom around the world.

• This Declaration remains more relevant than ever as the freedom of the press and the safety of journalists are increasingly under attack worldwide and new challenges are threatening the freedom to inform and to be informed, both online and offline.

• It inspired regional declarations, raised professional and ethical standards in journalism, paved the way for organisations defending press freedom to flourish, and promoted media legislation reforms and the development of a free, independent and pluralistic media. 

World Press Freedom Day 2024

• This year, World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

• This year’s theme is: ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis’.

• Environmental journalists are often the chroniclers of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Many report on hidden issues such as illegal logging and the theft of freshwater. 

• In recent years, a growing number of environmental journalists have faced harassment, assault and even murder. Research suggests that more than dozens of environmental journalists were killed in the past two decades, making it the most dangerous journalism field after war reporting. 

• According to the environmental group Global Witness, 1,910 land and environmental defenders were killed between 2012 and 2022. 

• Misleading and false information about climate change can, in some cases, foster doubt and incredulity about environmental issues, their impact and urgency, and undermine international efforts to address them. 

• Misinformation about environmental issues can lead to a lack of public and political support for climate action, effective policies, and the protection of vulnerable communities affected by climate change, as well as of women and girls, as climate change tends to exacerbate existing inequalities.

What is the role of Press Council of India?

• The Press Council of India is a statutory, quasi-judicial, autonomous authority.

• It was first constituted on July 4, 1966.

• A fresh legislation providing for the establishment of the Council was enacted in 1978.

• The Press Council of India was reestablished in 1979 under an Act of Parliament, Press Council Act, 1978 with the objectives of preserving the freedom of the press by maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and the news agencies in India.

• The Council consists of a chairman and twenty-eight other members. 

• The chairman is, by convention, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India who is nominated by a committee consisting of Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), Speaker of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and a person elected from amongst themselves by the members of the Council. 

• Of the 28 members, 20 represents a specially identified segment of press and eight members from varied fields representing the two Houses of the Parliament and premier literacy and legal bodies like University Grants Commission, Bar Council of India and Sahitya Akademi. 

• The term of the office of the chairman and the members is three years.

• The Council discharges its functions primarily through adjudications on complaints received by it, either against the Press for violation of journalistic ethics or by the Press for interference with its freedom.

• National Press Day is observed in India on November 16.

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