Italian
The National Coordination of Teachers of Human Rights, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day celebrated every year on May 3rd, aims to raise awareness in the school world on the issues of protecting press freedom, underline the importance of the role of journalists, and celebrate the memory of those who have lost their lives while carrying out their duty.
ITALY. This day was first celebrated in 1993 after being proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. Its goal is to inform citizens about violations of freedom of expression that occur in many countries. Freedom guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, as far as our country is concerned, by Article 21 of the Constitution “Everyone has the right to freely express their thoughts through speech, writing, and any other means of communication. The press cannot be subjected to authorization or censorship.”
True democracy cannot exist without freedom of the press. The beating heart of our democratic societies is the presence of an independent press that supports pluralism.
The vox veritas of well-executed journalism that offers and comments on current events is a guarantee to regularly provide the facts of human life. The press enriches people’s lives and allows them to understand the vastness of the world. Unfortunately, in recent years the press has become a targeted objective, a collateral victim of armed conflicts. Furthermore, there are more and more journalists who fight daily to avoid muzzles and censorship and to defend the right to information by rejecting any kind of compromise. The situation of press freedom in the world is worrying, with a clear deterioration compared to previous years.
In Russia, the repression of independent media has increased, with many journalists forced to go into exile to avoid prison. The situation is also dire in Palestine, where too many journalists have died under the bombs.
It is essential to support independent media, promote laws that protect journalists, and ensure the plurality of information to preserve a democratic and informed society. It is crucial for institutions and civil society to work together to guarantee a free and pluralistic information, essential for a healthy and functioning democracy. On the contrary, however, political control over the media and intimidation, sometimes escalating into actual threats to journalistic independence, are increasingly pronounced and constant in many countries around the world. Italy is also facing significant challenges in maintaining a free and independent press. Political pressures, restrictive laws, and threats to journalists are jeopardizing the country’s democratic quality. According to a meeting of the Observatory on Threats to Reporters held at the Prefecture of Milan in 2025, in Italy, over 250 journalists are under police surveillance, and at least 20 are living under protection. Furthermore, in the past year, 114 incidents of intimidation towards journalists have been recorded. The data is truly alarming and calls for reflection that should be immediately accompanied by urgent and effective interventions.
“A journalist under escort is a defeat for democracy,” rightly stated Alessandra Costante, general secretary of the National Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI). In 2025, at least six journalists were killed globally, and 124 died in 2024. Most of the killings occurred in conflict zones, with particular severity in Palestine or in countries where press freedom is severely compromised. The case of Cecilia Sala, the Italian journalist who was arrested in Tehran last December with a regular press visa while working and remained in the harsh Evin prison for 21 days, is part of the global context, which is very concerning for press freedom, that we are trying to outline.
The news of the death of the Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roščyna, only 27 years old, found lifeless after disappearing in August 2023 while documenting life in the areas occupied by Russia, is just a few days old. Her death has sparked international outrage and calls for thorough investigations. Her body was returned to Ukraine with clear signs of torture, including abrasions, burns from electricity, a broken rib, and the absence of vital organs such as the brain, eyes, and trachea; a torment inflicted to conceal the cause of death.
Roščyna was known for her reporting in occupied areas and for her reports on human rights violations by Russian forces. Unfortunately, the list of martyred journalists is very long, so even if we will limit ourselves to mentioning only a few names, we intend, through these names, to remember all the other journalists. Our thoughts go to the Palestinian journalists Hossam Shabat, Faisal Abu AI-Qumsan, Aymann AI-Jadi, Ibrahim AI-Sheikh Ali, Fadi Hassouna, Mohammed AI-Ladah, and the photographer Fatima Hassouna killed by Israeli bombings in Gaza; to the journalist Oksana Baulina killed by a bombing in Kiev; to the journalist Zemfira Sulejmanova who died jumping on a mine in Donbass, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine; to the journalist Daria Dugina, killed by a car bomb.
Freedom of the Press is a necessity for every democratic society and is a fundamental part of the rights promoted by liberal ideology, as clearly stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is strongly supported by the National Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI), which denounces “dangers and risks to press freedom” in our country, which in 2025 drops to 49th place in the Reporters Without Borders Index, losing three places compared to last year.
“When will Europe’s alarm go off?” wonders Vittorio Di Trapani, President of the National Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI), known for his commitment to defending journalists’ rights and promoting press freedom.
We conclude our statement by emphasizing that it is truly unacceptable to think that today there are so many reporters risking their lives in the name of the noble principle of freedom of information, a fundamental pillar of democratic society.
We all need to be aware that rights and freedoms are in danger due to censorship, threats, restrictive laws on freedom of expression, surveillance, privacy violations, and it is up to each of us to protect these precious safeguards. World Press Freedom Day should be a beacon that shines a light on the truth to expose injustices and ensure that governments and institutions are transparent and accountable; it is our duty to remember all journalists, both Italian and citizens of other countries, who sacrifice their lives every day for the right to information, and to commemorate those who have lost their lives simply because they chose to be bearers of freedom and truth.
The CNDDU strongly wishes to underline the high civic value of such a significant day, which should urge us to fully understand that the value of freedom is not an acquired and unchangeable right, therefore it must be defended every day with courage and important actions to ensure that nothing and no one can undermine it, leading us into already known pitfalls.
Every year, the CNDDU asks teachers from Italian first and second grade schools to join the #InchiostroLibero initiative to raise awareness among students about the value of press freedom and the importance of the work and role of journalists. This year, we are once again inviting our fellow teachers to involve their students in creating a “Digital Wall of Memory” where they can write some biographies of journalists who have paid with their lives or their freedom for the courage to tell the truth, and to remember through these stories the sacrifice of all media professionals who have died in the name of information.
As always, we will be happy to publish the students’ papers on our website and on our social channels.
“Freedom of the press is the measure of a free nation.”
Professor Rossella Manco
