At the initiative of UNESCO, since 1993, May 3 has been celebrated annually around the world as World Speech Freedom Day. This date symbolically represents the support for pluralism of opinions in society, information transparency, and objective journalistic activity.

Freedom of speech is not only a right but also a responsibility, a moral obligation, and a form of conscious civic engagement. This principle is the foundation of a stable civil society, the openness of government activities, and a guarantee of human dignity.

In our country, systematic efforts are being made to ensure freedom of speech, create conditions for the free and independent functioning of mass media, and foster an environment of high culture and responsibility in the information space. The Agency for Information and Mass Communications is developing legal, technological, and educational conditions for the media and bloggers, thereby strengthening the legal guarantees of freedom of expression.

At the same time, it is essential to deeply analyze public attitudes toward freedom of speech through systematic and scientific research of public opinion. In this regard, the results of sociological surveys conducted by the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr” show that the majority of the population considers freedom of expression to be one of the key conditions for societal development.

Citizens highly value the objectivity of information sources and the collaboration between government agencies and the public through mass communication channels. In particular, the growing trust of young people in the internet and digital media indicates a rising level of media literacy in society.

Freedom of speech is a responsibility not only for journalists or bloggers but for every conscious citizen. The pursuit of truth, dissemination of objective information, and opposition to misinformation require a moral stance from each of us.

Commemorating May 3 means standing up for truth, highlighting justice, and recognizing the diversity of opinions.