UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2025

Created in 1997, the annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize honours a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and, or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, and especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger.

The Prize was established on the initiative of UNESCO's Executive Board and is formally conferred by UNESCO, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, on 3 May.

It is named in honour of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia on 17 December 1986.

UNESCO is now receiving nominations for the 2025 edition of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Member States as well as international and regional professional and non­governmental organizations working in the field of journalism and freedom of expression may nominate up to three candidates for the Prize. 

• Table of Content
• About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Press Freedom Prize
• Aim and Benefits of World Press Freedom Prize
• Requirements for World Press Freedom Prize Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

World Press Freedom Prize

Application Deadline	15 Feb 2025
Value	US$ 25,000
Type	Contest
Sponsor	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of World Press Freedom Prize

The prize, worth US$ 25,000, is awarded each year on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day

Requirements for World Press Freedom Prize Qualification

• Candidates shall have made a significant contribution to press freedom worldwide, representing all types of media.
• Prizes may be conferred on individuals, institutions, other entities or non-governmental organizations.

Application Deadline

February 15, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on unesdoc.unesco.org to apply

For more details, visit UNESCO website