Today is World Press Freedom Day.

This year's World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the role of the free press in ensuring sustainable development.

The main event organized by UNESCO on this occasion will be held in Helsinki. It will be attended by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. It is an opportunity to: celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.