[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 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

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

                              S. Res. 143

       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.

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