This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information on World Press Freedom Day, marked on 3 May each year.
World Press Freedom Day: 3 May 2019 (261KB PDF)
World Press Freedom Day takes place on 3 May each year. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The recommendation was made in response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 had produced the Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence. The day aims to:
UNESCO has argued that the day serves as a reminder that “in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered”. It is also intended to act as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and as an opportunity for media professionals to reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
In 2019, World Press Freedom Day is being jointly organised by UNESCO, the African Union Commission and the Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia. The day will take place under the theme ‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation’, which aims to highlight the current challenges faced by the media in elections, along with the media’s potential in supporting peace and reconciliation processes.
World Press Freedom Day: 3 May 2019 (261KB PDF)
The UK is a signatory to the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. The commission would assess claims for compensation for damage and losses caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has broadly welcomed the convention, but also raised concerns about the scope and efficacy of the commission.
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
Social media and other technologies have made it easier, quicker and cheaper for foreign powers to spread false information online aimed at undermining UK democracy. Such disinformation campaigns are one type of interference operation. In parallel, researchers have noted a link between declining public trust and societal polarisation, which can be exacerbated by online discourse. This briefing provides introductory reading to these issues, including recent reports and government announcements.
