In December 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 3 May as World Press Freedom Day, following a recommendation from UNESCO's General Conference in 1991. The date commemorates the 1991 Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free-press principles drafted by African journalists gathered in Namibia under UNESCO's auspices. The day serves as an annual opportunity to evaluate press freedom around the world, defend media independence against censorship and repression, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in pursuit of the truth. UNESCO and human rights organizations use the occasion to release reports documenting violations against journalists and threats to freedom of expression. Observances range from major international conferences hosted by UNESCO to local seminars organized by newsrooms and press freedom groups, alongside digital campaigns emphasizing the media's essential role in sustaining democracy and the public's right to information. For many press freedom advocates, it is also a moment to call for the release of journalists imprisoned for their work.