[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 74 (Thursday, May 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 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

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

                              S. Res. 447

       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
       Resolved, 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 improve the means by which the United States 
     Government rapidly identifies, publicizes, and responds to 
     threats against freedom of the press around the world;
       (B) to urge foreign governments to transparently 
     investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks 
     against journalists; and
       (C) to highlight the issue of threats against freedom of 
     the press year-round.

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