[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 143 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 143

 Recognizing the threats to freedom of the press and expression around 
  the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority in the 
 efforts of the United States Government to promote democracy and good 
 governance on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2013.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 16, 2013

   Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the threats to freedom of the press and expression around 
  the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority in the 
 efforts of the United States Government to promote democracy and good 
 governance on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2013.

Whereas Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 
        adopted at Paris December 10, 1948, states that ``everyone has the right 
        to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to 
        hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart 
        information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers'';
Whereas, in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 3 of each 
        year as World Press Freedom Day to celebrate the fundamental principles 
        of freedom of the press, to evaluate freedom of the press around the 
        world, to defend the media from attacks on its independence, and to pay 
        tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of 
        their profession;
Whereas 2013 is the 20th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, which focuses 
        on the theme ``Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All 
        Media'';
Whereas the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note; 
        Public Law 111-166), which was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate 
        and signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, expanded the 
        examination of freedom of the press around the world in the annual human 
        rights report of the Department of State;
Whereas, according to Freedom House, the percentage of people in the world who 
        live in countries with a free media environment fell to 14 percent in 
        2012, the lowest percentage in more than a decade;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, 88 journalists and 47 citizen 
        journalists were killed in 2012 in connection with their collection and 
        dissemination of news and information, an increase of 33 percent and 840 
        percent, respectively, compared to 2011;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, the five deadliest countries 
        for journalists in 2012 were Syria, Somalia, Pakistan, Mexico, and 
        Brazil;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 593 journalists have 
        been murdered since 1992 without the perpetrators of those crimes facing 
        punishment;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the five countries 
        with the highest number of unsolved journalist murders since 2003 as a 
        percentage of the population of that country are Iraq, Somalia, 
        Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Colombia;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, 879 journalists and 144 citizen 
        journalists were arrested in 2012;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there were a record 
        232 journalists in prison worldwide on December 1, 2012;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, the five countries in which the 
        most journalists are imprisoned are Turkey, China, Eritrea, Iran, and 
        Syria;
Whereas the abuse of anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws to incarcerate 
        journalists and suppress freedom of the press occurred on numerous 
        occasions abroad in 2012;
Whereas freedom of the press is a key component of democratic governance, the 
        activism of civil society, and socio-economic development;
Whereas, in the ongoing political transition of Burma, notable progress was made 
        in advancing freedom of the press in 2012, although certain problems 
        remain; and
Whereas freedom of the press enhances public accountability, transparency, and 
        participation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses concern about the threats to freedom of the 
        press and expression around the world on the occasion of World 
        Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2013;
            (2) commends journalists around the world for the essential 
        role they play in promoting government accountability, 
        defending democratic activity, and strengthening civil society, 
        despite threats to their safety;
            (3) pays tribute to the journalists who have lost their 
        lives carrying out their work and calls on governments abroad 
        to thoroughly investigate and seek to resolve all cases while 
        ensuring the protection of witnesses;
            (4) condemns all actions around the world that suppress 
        freedom of the press;
            (5) reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the press to 
        efforts by the United States Government to support democracy, 
        mitigate conflict, and promote good governance domestically and 
        around the world; and
            (6) calls on the President and the Secretary of State--
                    (A) to improve the means by which the United States 
                Government rapidly identifies, publicizes, and responds 
                to threats against freedom of the press around the 
                world; and
                    (B) to highlight the issue of threats against 
                freedom of the press year-round.
                                 <all>