For information only – not an official document
UNIS/SGSM/1491
30 April 2025
In a world plagued by conflict and division, World Press Freedom Day highlights a fundamental truth:
Freedom for people depends on freedom of the press.
Free and independent journalism is an essential public good.
It’s the backbone of accountability, justice, equality and human rights.
Journalists everywhere must be able to report freely and without fear or favour.
When journalists are unable to work, we all lose.
Tragically, this is becoming more difficult every year.
And more dangerous.
Journalists face attacks, detentions, censorship, intimidation, violence and even death — simply for doing their jobs.
We are seeing a sharp rise in the number of journalists killed in conflict areas — particularly in Gaza.
And now — as this year’s theme reminds us — press freedom faces an unprecedented threat.
Artificial intelligence can support freedom of expression — or stifle it.
Biased algorithms, outright lies, and hate speech are landmines on the information superhighway.
Accurate, verifiable, fact-based information is the best tool to defuse them.
The Global Digital Compact adopted last year includes concrete steps to strengthen international cooperation to promote information integrity, tolerance and respect in the digital space.
AI must be shaped in a way that is consistent with human rights and puts facts first.
And the Global Principles for Information Integrity I launched last year are supporting and informing this work as we push for a more humane information ecosystem.
On this World Press Freedom Day, let’s commit to make this a reality and safeguard press freedom and the press everywhere.
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"In a world plagued by conflict and division, World Press Freedom Day highlights a fundamental truth: Freedom for people depends on freedom of the press." — António Guterres
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Singapore’s national space office, the Office for Space Technology & Industry of Singapore (OSTIn), have agreed to collaborate under the "Space Law for New Space Actors" project.
Brazil signed the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships (the "Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships") at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 17 April 2025.
"Together, let's get to work and make 2025 the year we restore good health to Mother Earth." — António Guterres
