In April 1991, journalists from 38 African countries came together in Namibia for a week-long seminar to discuss the need for a free, independent and pluralistic press on the continent.
When discussions ended after five days on 3 May, they had created the Windhoek declaration - a declaration of free press principles.
Later that year, Unesco’s general conference endorsed the declaration.
In 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 3 May as World Press Freedom Day.
It is marked annually around the world.
Gwen Lister was a newspaper editor at the time and chaired the seminar.
She tells Jen Dale about the conference and the personal costs of standing up for press freedom.
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(Picture: Gwen Lister with former Namibian Prime Minister Hage Geingob at the Windhoek seminar. Credit: The Namibian)
