As the world celebrates World Press Freedom Day, many highlight the importance of free speech as well as the current prosecution of journalists all over the world. In various countries, ranging from Egypt to Russia, journalists have come under fire for reporting the news and providing information to the population.

On December 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Press Freedom Day and has been celebrating it on May 3 to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Windhoek. Written by various newspaper journalists from Africa during a UNESCO seminar on "Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press" in Windhoek, Namibia, from April 29 to May 3, 1991, the statement reaffirms the rights to a free press and "calls for free, independent, pluralistic media worldwide, characterizing free press as essential to democracy and as a fundamental human right," according to the U.N. website.

This year the themes are the media's importance in development; the safety of journalists and the rule of law; and the sustainability and integrity of journalism. In a statement, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon reiterated what this day represents and provided sobering facts about the state of journalism and journalists in the world today.

"Each year on World Press Freedom Day, we reaffirm our commitment to the fundamental freedom to receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers, enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," the Secretary General said.

"Yet every day of the year sees this right under assault, to the detriment of us all. Journalists are singled out for speaking or writing uncomfortable truths -- kidnapped, detained, beaten and sometimes murdered. Such treatment is completely unacceptable in a world ever more reliant on global news outlets and the journalists who serve them."

Ban then explained how last year 70 journalist were killed as well as 14 this year. Another 456 journalists have been forced into exile since 2008 and well over 1000 have been killed since 1992, which equals to nearly one per week. Aside from these facts, he added 211 journalists were held in prisons last year.

Though the U.N. has called for greater press freedom worldwide, atrocities and injustices continue to happen. Since last December, four journalists have been held prisoner in Egypt, accused of creating false news, smearing Egypt's reputation and aiding terrorists, according to The Guardian.

Three of the men, journalists for Al-Jazeera English, appeared in court today. Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian-Egyptian journalist, made a statement explaining the nature of journalism to the judge. He is being held alongside Australian journalist Peter Greste and local producer Baher Mohamed along with five student protesters with connections to the banned Muslim Brotherhood. The Guardian reports that prosecutors have been depicting Al-Jazeera as part of a pro-Brotherhood conspiracy.

In his speech, Fahmy tried to explain his connections with the Muslim Brotherhood by stating that its part of a journalist's work. He added he had connection with the military as well as the liberal factions. However, his statement fell on deaf ears, and Judge Mohamed Nagy simply wished the men a happy World Press Freedom Day.

"We recognize the significance of the coincidence of this trial falling on World Press Freedom Day," Greste said from behind bars. "You can't have a free society without a free press. In Egypt today you know that you can't provide balance as long as you can end up in prison like us."

The court was adjourned until May 15.