Ethiopia will host the main celebration of the 2019 World Press Freedom Day, a day set aside to celebrate journalism and defend the media’s independence.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. It is marked each year on 3 May.
This year’s main celebration will be held in Addis Ababa, jointly organized by UNESCO, the African Union Commission and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Over 100 other national events around the world will also be held to complement the main celebration.
The theme for the 2019 World Press Freedom Day will be ‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation.’
In line with the theme, the African Union has called for increased efforts to empower journaists to report on elections in order to tackle malpractices.
“Sustained efforts to enhance the capacity of journalists to investigate and report on malpractices during elections will promote accountability and counteract corruption,” the continental body said.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay is expected to attend the Addis Ababa celebratios alongside African Union leaders.
