[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 447 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 440
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 447
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 15, 2014
Mr. Casey (for himself, Mr. Rubio, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
June 25, 2014
Reported by Mr. Menendez, with an amendment and an amendment to the
preamble
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
<DELETED>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, on December 18, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a
resolution (A/RES/68/163) on the safety of journalists and the issue of
impunity, which unequivocally condemns all attacks and violence against
journalists and media workers, including torture, extrajudicial
killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and intimidation
and harassment in both conflict and non-conflict situations;
Whereas 2014 is the 21st anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, which focuses
on the theme ``Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015
Development Agenda'';
Whereas the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-16622;
U.S.C. 2151 note), 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 Reporters Without Borders, 71 journalists and 39 citizen
journalists were killed in 2013 in connection with their collection and
dissemination of news and information;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the 3 deadliest
countries for journalists on assignment in 2013 were Syria, Iraq, and
Egypt, and in Syria, the deadliest country for such journalists, an
unprecedented number of journalists were abducted;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 617 journalists have
been murdered since 1992 without the perpetrators of such crimes facing
punishment;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the 5 countries with
the highest number of unsolved journalist murders are Iraq, the
Philippines, Algeria, Colombia, and Somalia;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, 826 journalists and 127 citizen
journalists were arrested in 2013;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 211 journalists
worldwide were in prison on December 1, 2013;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, the 5 countries with the
highest number of journalists in prison are Syria, China, Eritrea,
Turkey, and Iran;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, the Government of Syria and
extremist rebel militias have intentionally targeted journalists,
causing dramatic repercussions for the freedom of the press throughout
the region;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has engaged in an unprecedented
campaign to silence the independent press and undermine freedom of
expression, including its recent efforts to destabilize Ukraine;
Whereas freedom of the press is a key component of democratic governance, the
activism of civil society, and socioeconomic development; and
Whereas freedom of the press enhances public accountability, transparency, and
participation: Now, therefore, be it
</DELETED>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, on December 18, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a
resolution (A/RES/68/163) on the safety of journalists and the issue of
impunity, which unequivocally condemns all attacks and violence against
journalists and media workers, including torture, extrajudicial
killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and intimidation
and harassment in both conflict and non-conflict situations;
Whereas 2014 is the 21st anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, which focuses
on the theme ``Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015
Development Agenda'';
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 Reporters Without Borders, 71 journalists and 39 citizen
journalists were killed in 2013 in connection with their collection and
dissemination of news and information;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the 3 deadliest
countries for journalists on assignment in 2013 were Syria, Iraq, and
Egypt, and in Syria, the deadliest country for such journalists, an
unprecedented number of journalists were abducted;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 617 journalists have
been murdered since 1992 without the perpetrators of such crimes facing
punishment;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the 5 countries with
the highest number of unpunished journalist murders between 2004 to 2013
are Iraq, Somalia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Syria;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, 826 journalists and 127 citizen
journalists were arrested in 2013;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 211 journalists
worldwide were in prison on December 1, 2013;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, the 5 countries with the
highest number of journalists in prison are Syria, China, Eritrea,
Turkey, and Iran;
Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, the Government of Syria and
extremist rebel militias have intentionally targeted professional and
citizen journalists, causing dramatic repercussions for the freedom of
the press throughout the region;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has engaged in an unprecedented
campaign to silence the independent press and undermine freedom of
expression, including its recent efforts to destabilize Ukraine;
Whereas Reporters Without Borders has expressed concern that journalists in Cuba
have suffered physical attacks, arbitrary detention, and death threats,
and have been prevented access to information;
Whereas Freedom House has cited a deteriorating environment for internet freedom
around the world and has ranked Iran, Cuba, China, Syria, and Ethiopia
as having the worst obstacles to access, limits on content, and
violations of user rights among the countries and territories rated by
Freedom House as ``Not Free'';
Whereas freedom of the press is a key component of democratic governance, the
activism of civil society, and socioeconomic development; and
Whereas freedom of the press enhances public accountability, transparency, and
participation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, <DELETED>That the Senate--
<DELETED> (1) expresses concern about the threats to freedom
of the press and expression around the world following World
Press Freedom Day, held on May 3, 2014;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) commends journalists and media workers around
the world for their essential role in promoting government
accountability, defending democratic activity, and
strengthening civil society, despite threats to their
safety;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) pays tribute to the journalists who have lost
their lives carrying out their work;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) calls on governments abroad to implement
United Nations General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/68/163), by
thoroughly investigating and seeking to resolve outstanding
cases of violence against journalists, including murders and
kidnappings, while ensuring the protection of
witnesses;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) condemns all actions around the world that
suppress freedom of the press, such as the recent kidnappings
of journalists and media workers in eastern Ukraine by pro-
Russian militant groups;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) 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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) calls on the President and the Secretary of
State--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to urge foreign governments to
transparently investigate and bring to justice the
perpetrators of attacks against journalists;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to highlight the issue of threats
against freedom of the press year-round.</DELETED>
That the Senate--
(1) expresses concern about the threats to freedom of the
press and expression around the world following World Press
Freedom Day, held on May 3, 2014;
(2) commends journalists and media workers around the world
for their essential role 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;
(4) calls on governments abroad to implement United Nations
General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/68/163), by thoroughly
investigating and seeking to resolve outstanding cases of
violence against journalists, including murders and
kidnappings, while ensuring the protection of witnesses;
(5) condemns all actions around the world that suppress
freedom of the press, such as the recent kidnappings of
journalists and media workers in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian
militant groups;
(6) 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
(7) calls on the President and the Secretary of State--
(A) to ensure that the United States Government
rapidly identifies, publicizes, and responds to threats
against freedom of the press around the world;
(B) to continue to urge foreign governments to
transparently investigate and bring to justice the
perpetrators of attacks against journalists; and
(C) to continue to highlight the issue of threats
against freedom of the press year-round.
Calendar No. 440
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 447
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 25, 2014
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble