US to Host World Press Freedom Day

"The United States is pleased to announce that it will host UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day event in 2011, from May 1 - May 3 in Washington, D.C. UNESCO is the only UN agency with the mandate to promote freedom of expression and its corollary, freedom of the press."  Department of State's Announcement  link

"The 2011 World Press Freedom Day celebration will be held in Washington, DC. This has drawn a degree of criticism from a number of people, following the USA's controversial actions concerning the release of diplomatic cables by the whistleblower organization WikiLeaks." Wikipedia on World Press Freedom Day link

"Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But around the world, there are Governments and those wielding power who find many ways to obstruct it.  ...   All Governments have a duty to protect those who work in the media. This protection must include investigating and prosecuting those who commit crimes against journalists." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message for World Press Freedom Day 2010 from link

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."  Article 19 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights link

World Press Freedom Day Facebook link