Ethiopia: AU and UNESCO Organize Event to Commemorate World Press Freedom Day

By Staff Writer

ADDIS ABABA—United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in collaboration with the African Union Commission amongst other partners have organized a celebration of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) today, Thursday 3rd May 2012 At the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Under the theme: “New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies”, there will be commemorative activities marking the World Press Freedom Day at the AU Headquarters.The function  begins from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, in the Medium Conference Hall at the new African Union Conference Center (AUCC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The event will feature several messages on freedom of the press presented by different Organisations. There will be a presentation on the statistics and perspectives of social media in Ethiopia, as well as an award ceremony for the recognition of Excellence in Journalism among others.

Participants include representatives from the Ethiopian media, UNESCO, AUC, UN, EU and UNHCHR.

The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is consistent with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the establishment, maintenance and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and free press is essential to the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation, and for economic development. (Windhoek Declaration of, 3 May 1991)

Established in 1991, World Press Freedom Day has been celebrated throughout the world on May 3rd ever since. For years now, this day constituted an opportunity to assess and discuss the steps made towards an improved freedom of speech, freedom of the press and information circulation.