World Press Freedom Day is observed on May 3 every year to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluate the state of press freedom around the world, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives while performing their duties
The day was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993, following a recommendation from UNESCO. May 3 was chosen as the date because it marks the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of principles on press freedom developed by African journalists in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1991
The theme for World Press Freedom Day 2023 is “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other human rights.” The theme for 2022 was “Journalism under Surveillance”. Here are some journalists who gave their lives on the field
Danish Siddiqui, an award-winning photojournalist, was killed while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban forces near a border crossing with Pakistan in 2021. He used to work for Reuters. His second Pulitzer was awarded posthumously in 2022 for documenting Covid pandemic
Gauri Lankesh, an Indian journalist and a critic of right-wing extremism, was shot and killed in 2017 outside her home in Bangalore. She worked as an editor in Lankesh Patrike, a Kannada weekly known for her articles on right-wing extremism, women's rights and caste-based discrimination
James Foley, an American journalist, was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 and was beheaded by ISIS in 2014 after two years in captivity. He was a known war-journalist. His whereabouts were unknown until ISIS uploaded a video to YouTube entitled "A Message to America" where he was being beheaded by terrorists
Daniel Pearl was an American journalist and the South Asia Bureau Chief for The Wall Street Journal. He was kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan, in January 2002. A month after his abduction, a graphic video was released showing his beheading by his captors, who identified themselves as members of Al-Qaeda
Some other journalists who were killed while on duty are Mexican journalist Javier Valdez who used to cover drug trafficking in Mexico, Marie Colvin killed in a rocket attack while reporting the Syrian civil war in 2012
Reports Without Borders publishes an annual ranking of freedom of the press in countries which reflects on the security provided to the journalists and laws safeguarding the interests of the journalists. As per World Press Freedom Index, India is at 150th position