The United Nations publishes a list of international days such as World Press Freedom Day (May 3rd) and World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (May 17th). What are their purposes?

World Press Freedom Day (WPF) will be celebrated worldwide tomorrow as the Covid-19 global pandemic hits the headline. 3 May marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press (1992), and this day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference.

It reminds governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom, and enables media professionnals to discuss about issues of press freedom and professionnal ethics.

3 May is also 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;
• pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

World Information Society Day (1969) and World Telecommunication Day (2006) became one event known as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), which aims at raising awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies. These means of communication are also ways to bridge the digital divide.

17 May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention (1865) and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which was also founded in 1865.

Here is the list of International Days for May:

International Days United Nations

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Salaura DIDON