[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 105 (Tuesday, July 8, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4284-S4285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THREATS TO FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 440, S.
Res. 447.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (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.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution, which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign
Relations, 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.)
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
(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;
[[Page S4285]]
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,
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.
Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, I further ask unanimous consent that
the committee-reported substitute amendment to the resolution be agreed
to; the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the committee-reported
amendment to the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be
agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid
upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was
agreed to.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute to the
preamble was agreed to.
The resolution (S. Res. 447), as amended, was agreed to.
The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
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