WATCH: World Press Freedom Day Conference [LIVE]

Nearly two decades ago, the UN General Assembly proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day as a reminder that free, independent press is essential to democracy and is a fundamental human right.

In honor of that occasion, the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has organized a conference at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. this Monday through Tuesday, with a focus on how Internet and digital platforms are contributing to freedom of expression, democratic governance and sustainable development across the globe.

You are invited to tune in to the livestream above to watch the discussions both days. Monday's schedule is listed below.

Schedule

9:00-9:30 a.m.: Freedom of the Press 2011 Index

A presentation of the findings of Freedom House's annual Freedom of the Press index, broadcast live from the Newseum's Press Freedom Gallery.

Introductory remarks by David J. Kramer, Executive Director, Freedom House

Karin Karlekar, Freedom House, Senior Editor, Freedom of the Press 2011, United States

9:45 - 10:45 a.m.: Press Freedom: How Far Have We Come and Where are We Going?

Two decades ago, the Windhoek Declaration proclaimed a free media essential to democracy and economic development. Reflecting on Freedom House’s latest mapping of media freedom, where does the world stand on media freedom in 2011? How are digital media, social networks, and mobile platforms expanding information access? And where are they being blocked?

Welcome: Janis Karklins, Assistant General-Director, Communication and Information, UNESCO, Latvia

Moderator: TBD

Karin Karlekar, Freedom House, Senior Editor, Freedom of the Press 2011, United States

Frank LaRue, Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression, United Nations, Guatemala

Gwen Lister, Founder, the Namibian; Media Institute of Southern Africa, Namibia

Eric Newton, Senior Adviser to the President, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, United States

11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.: Breakout Session 1.5: Digital Natives: The New Media Generation

Young people, who constitute the majority of the population in many countries, are fueling media innovation. How do young people get and share their news in the digital age? Will growing up digitally change the way a new generation engages in the public debate?

Moderator: Jason Rzepka, Vice President, Public Affairs, MTV Networks, United States

Shiv Bhaskar Dravid, Founder, The Viewspaper, India

Emin Milli, Founder, Alumni Network Youth Group, Azerbaijan (via Skype)

Adnan Hajizada, Founder, OL! Azerbaijani Youth Movement, Azerbaijan (via Skype)

Jennifer Ehidiamen, journalist, Celebrating Progress Africa and the Global Press Institute, Nigeria

Maria Sadovskaya, Journalist, European Radio for Belarus, Belarus

2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Plenary Session 2: New Barriers: Censorship in the Digital Age

Twenty years after the Windhoek Declaration, digital media provide new opportunities for freedom of expression and accessing information, but the technology that makes these channels possible also offers repressive regimes new means of censorship and the silencing of voices.  The Associated Press will host a town hall-format discussion in the Knight Studio at the Newseum featuring four journalists from challenging media environments who face cyber-surveillance, digital harassment and other censorship threats. The event will be moderated by the AP’s Kimberly Dozier, a veteran foreign correspondent and specialist on international security issues.

Welcome, introduction: W. Robert Pearson, President, Internal Research & Exchanges Board, United States

Moderator: Kimberly Dozier, Correspondent, the Associated Press, United States

Wael Abbas, Founder and Blogger, Misr Digital, Egypt

Nazila Fathi, Correspondent, New York Times, Iran

Xiao Qiang, Director, China Internet Project at UC-Berkeley; Founder and Editor, China Digital Times, China

Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Executive Director, Prachatai, Thailand

3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.: Breakout Session 2.2: Censorship Without Borders

In the digital age, threats to freedom of expression are transnational. How has the Internet exposed journalists around the world to new threats that know no boundaries, including libel suits brought across borders, and distributed denial of service attacks? How do repressive governments share technologies and techniques to silence their citizens online?

Moderator: Dainius Radzevicius, Chairman, Union of Journalists of the Republic of Lithuania; Chairman, Council of Lithuanian National Radio and Television, Lithuania

Clothilde Le Coz, Washington Director, Reporters Without Borders, France

Drew Sullivan, Founder, Center for Investigative Reporting of Bosnia-Herzegovina, United States

John Kampfner, Chief Executive, Index on Censorship, United Kingdom

Omoyele Sowore, Founder, Sahara Reporters, Nigeria

Danny O'Brien, Internet Advocacy Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists, United Kingdom