ANNUAL WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
Beginning in 2013 each year Africa Agenda has led the celebration of World Press Freedom Day in Denver. The day is set aside by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) to recognize the contributions of journalists and bloggers around as well as the importance of internet freedom as a foundation for international development.
Africa Agenda’s World Press Freedom Day events focus on supporting freedom of expression in Africa and what the future holds for the continent in terms of digital transformation into cell phones, the internet, and democracy.
Celebrated on May 3 each year, 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 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;
- pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Panelists at the 2016 Press Freedom Day event in Denver: From Left to right: Marcelo Ramirez (University of Denver student), professor Robert Uttaro (University of Denver), Sherri Maning (ENCA Farms), George Bamu (Africa Agenda), Charles Kirya (former journalist from Uganda), Tony Showcross (Denver Open Media) Susan Abbott (moderator)
According to Africa Agenda founder, George Bamu, the purpose has been to honor the many men and women who provide vital news and information to the African people and continent.
Participants at the 2014 Colorado-Africa Summit engage during a table discussion.
Other events have focused on independent media, and civil society.